110 THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 



owing to the edges of each scale being covered with little golden dots j the same golden gloss is 

 also apparent at the base of the pectoral. The pectoral fin has some dark marks at the base of its 

 rays, which have a gloss of purple in them, the fin is barred in spots, most apparent in its centre. 

 The first dorsal, which is diaphanous, is tipped with deep brown, its first and second rays have a 

 bar near their base, and some slighter markings higher up, which are continued in the form of 

 spots on to the other rays. The second dorsal has six rows of spots along it, and is also tipped 

 with a dark shade. Caudal barred in ten or twelve irregular stripes. Ventral and anal yellowish, 

 stained with grey at their extremities. Caudal with grey margin and dark base. Eyes hazeL 



Grows to one foot and a half in length, and is found in all pieces of fresh and brackish water, 

 and even within the influence of the tides. Its taste is rather insipid, and muddy in some waters, 

 but it is highly esteemed by the Natives as food. It is a voracious fish which takes a bait freely. 



Habitat — Fresh waters of Hindustan, Ceylon, Malaysia, China, and the Philippine islands. 



GOBIUS VIRIDI-PUNCTATUS. 



Nuna-mottah, Russell, pi. 52. 



Gobius viridi-punctatus, Guv. & Val. xii. p. 62 ; Guniher, Catal. iii. p. 24. 



B. iv. D. 6 | jV P. 17. V. l A. i C. 15. L. 1 28. L. fcr. 13. 



Length of head \, of pectoral \, of caudal g, of base of first dorsal y'g, of base of second dorsal \, 

 of base of anal \ of total length. Height of head J, of body \, of first dorsal ^, of second dorsal -j^, 

 of anal ^> °f ventral ^ of total length. 



Eyes — Partly on the upper surface of the head, directed upwards and outwards : diameter 

 ^ of length of head, rather more than 1 diameter from end of snout, J of a diameter apart. 



Body elongated, slightly tapering off towards either extremity : profile from snout to first 

 dorsal very slightly elevated : muzzle rounded, obtuse anteriorly. 



Lower jaw slightly the longest : gape of mouth wide : the maxilla extends backwards to below 

 centre of orbit. Upper jaw rather protrusible. Preopercle wide, its horizontal margin of equal 

 length with its vertical. Opercle narrow superiorly, one fifth of the length of the head, and narrow- 

 ing inferiorly. Anterior margin of orbit raised, as is also the superciliary ridge. Interorbital 

 space narrow and concave from side to side. Openings of nostrils just anterior to and opposite the 

 lower margin of the orbit. 



Teeth — In jaws villiform, with an external row of larger and distant ones in the upper jaw, 

 and some large conical external ones in the lower, some of which are as large as canines. 



Fins — Ventrals united, short, and arising on the lower surface rather behind the commence- 

 ment of the pectoral : the first dorsal arises opposite the posterior fourth of the pectoral, and the 

 second dorsal rather behind the middle of the total length. First dorsal triangular, its spines 

 weak, and then- terminations almost filamentous : the interspinous membrane rather deeply 

 notched. Second dorsal and anal cut square, their posterior extremities slightly produced owing 

 to the last rays being rather prolonged, reaching almost to the root of the caudal. Pectoral bluntly 

 pointed. Caudal wedge-shaped, its central rays the longest. 



Scales — Of a quadrangular form, longest diameter from above downwards. They cover the 

 body, upper portion of opercle, and base of caudal : each is striated in very fine raised lines con- 

 \ erging posteriorly. The scales on the nape are smaller than those on the body. 



Colours — Greyish brown above, some irregular bands or blotches of brown along the sides, 

 abdomen dirty white. The whole of the dark portion of the body is covered with small metallic 



