98 THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 



black spots, as are also the bases and anterior portions of the anal and pectoral fins and the outer 

 edge of the caudal. Iris golden and green towards the orbit. 



Grows to twenty inches in length, but is dry and insipid eating. 



Habitat — Seas of India, Malaysia, and as far as the coast of Australia. Atlantic coasts of 

 tropical and temperate America, crossing over to the Western coast of Africa. 



Trachynotus Bailloni. 



Botla parah, Russell, pi. 142. 



CLesiomorus Bailloni, Lacep. iii. p. 93, pi. 3, fig. 1. 



Trachinotus quadripunctatus, Guv. & Vol. viii. p. 434 ; Cantor, Catal. p. 122. 



Trachinotus Russelli, Cuv. & Vol. viii. p. 436. 



Trachinotus Bailloni, Cuv. & Vol. viii. p. 431 ; Gimther, Catal. ii. p. 484. 



Vella oodoo, and Parruvu, Mai. 



B.vii. D.6| J 5 ,. P. 17. V.i A.2|„_Vff- 0.17. 



Length of head T 3 g, of pectoral \, of caudal f , of base of first dorsal \, of base of second 

 dorsal \, of base of anal f of total length. Height of head \, of body f , of first dorsal 3 \, of 

 second dorsal \, of anal \, of ventral j ? of total length. 



Eyes — Diameter rather more than \ length of head; 1 diameter from end of snout, 1^ dia- 

 meters apart. 



Body ovoid, elevated, and strongly compressed, its width not exceeding one third of its height. 



Jaws of equal length, the maxilla extending backwards until it nearly reaches to beneath the 

 centre of the orbit. Snout obtuse : nostrils between orbit and snout, but rather above the level of 

 the former, the posterior nostril large and oval, the anterior round and small. Preopercle, vertical 

 limb directed rather backwards, with the angle rounded and produced : inferior margin oblique. 

 Opercle of moderate size. 



Teeth — Card-like in both jaws, and on vomer and palate. 



Fins — The first dorsal consists of six free spines, preceded by a recumbent one directed for- 

 wards : these spines can be laid flat, and have also an irregular lateral movement. The first 

 dorsal spine is situated over the posterior third of pectoral, the ventral arises under its centre. The 

 second dorsal commences about midway between snout and base of caudal : the anal under the 

 fourth ray of second dorsal : both are very much produced in front, whilst the last fifteen rays 

 are parallel with the back and abdomen : a small portion only of the tail is uncovered by fin. 

 Pectoral and ventral small : caudal with deeply produced lobes, the upper slightly the longest. 

 Two free spines before the anal fin of moderate strength. 



Scales — Small, external portions oval, they are placed in sinuous lines, and below the level of 

 the pectoral are much smaller than those above it. 



Lateral line — In simple tubes : it is slightly arched at first, but from Opposite the last third of 

 the pectoral proceeds straight to the centre of the caudal. 



Colours — Upper surface of head and back of a silvery yellowish green, becoming lighter 

 on the sides, and silvery white on the abdomen, opercles, and cheeks. The first two or three rays 

 of the dorsal and anal, and the external half of each lobe of the caudal, are black. On the lateral 

 line there are four or five large black spots, more or less distant, the first one is opposite the end 

 of the pectoral. Fins diaphanous. Iris silvery, and greenish towards the orbit. 



