TI1K FISHES OF MALABAR. 105 



* EQUULA 1)1.001111. 



Equula Blochii, Cuv. & Vol. x. p. 84. 



" V 1 A J>- 



B.v. D. T V V.l A. T S , 



Body oblong : head higher and shorter than in the E. daura, Cuv. Lower jaw concave 



inferiorly. 



Fins— Spines of dorsal and anal nearly as strong as in the E. edcntula, Bl. 



Colours— Silvery, with a grey or leaden tinge on the Lack, and a longitudinal silvery band 

 along its centre. A black spot on the dorsal fin. 



Grows to three and a quarter inches in length. 



Habitat — Malabar. 



Equula daura. 



Dacer karah, Russell, pi. 65. 



Equula daura, Cuv. Keg. Anim; Cantor, Catal. p. 150; Gunther, Catal. ii. p. 502. 



Equula dacer, Cuv. & Vol. x. p. 83. 



B.v. D. T V P. 17. V.J, A.&. C. 17. 



Length of head \, of pectoral ^ of caudal \, of base of dorsal ?, of base of anal nearly. \ of 

 total length. Height of head \, of body \, of hard dorsal 1, of soft dorsal T \, of anal spines j l , 

 of anal rays ^ of total length. 



Eyes— Transverse diameter J, vertical diameter § of length of head, J diameter from end of 



snout, | of a diameter apart. 



Upper and lower profile equally convex, and general appearance the same as in the 



E. insidiatrix. 



Mouth as in the E. insidiatrix, the intermaxillaries equal in length to the transverse diameter of 

 the orbit ; the lower preopercular margin finely serrated, the serratures being largest anteriorly ; 

 the mandibulffi rather concave inferiorly. No serratures on the superciliary ridge or spines in my 

 specimen from Malabar, but they are said to be sometimes present. There is a triangular shallow 

 cavity on the summit of the head. 



Teeth — In a fine single series in the jaws. 



Fins— Dorsal commences opposite the posterior third of the pectoral. Ventral under its first 

 quarter. Anal opposite the seventh dorsal spine. The second dorsal spine the longest and 

 broadest ; first anal spine very short, the second rather broad, strong, and longer than the third 

 which is feebler. The caudal deeply lobed. 

 Scales — Comparatively small. 



Lateral line— In upper quarter of the body parallel to the back. 



Colours— Generally of a silvery satin ; back bluish green, a greenish line passes along the centre 

 of the back ; abdomen bluish golden. From ten to twelve fine darkish bands descend from the 

 dorsal to the lateral line. On the shoulder there is a deep greenish black mark ; the opercles and 

 summit of head are like burnished silver; a dark tinge exists along the supraorbitals. The dorsal 

 fin is orange above and silvery beneath, with a deep black mark occupying the upper half of the 

 membrane°between its second and sixth spines. Pectoral with a black mark at its axil. Anal 



tipped anteriorly with orange. 



Grows to eight inches in length, and is esteemed for eating by the Natives, it is also dried in 



the same manner as the E. insidiatrix. 



Habitats-Seas of India, and Malaysia. 



r 



