THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 115 



Opercle wider above than below, and ending posteriorly in .1 blunt point: it has six transverse 

 rows of scales. Nostrils midway between the orbit and the snout. 



Teeth — In villiforni bands in both jaws. 



Fins — The ventral arises rather in front of tho pectoral, the first dorsal over its anterior 

 fourth, and the second dorsal over its posterior fourth. First dorsal spines weak, its membrane 

 deeply notched, and its form triangular : the second trapezoid with the last rays rather prolonged. 

 Pectoral rounded, and extending as far as the commencement of the anal. Ventral triangular. 

 Anal of the same shape as the second dorsal. Caudal wedge-shaped. 



Scales — Cycloid, quadrangular, their longest exposed portions from above downwards, those 

 on the head smaller than those over the body ; they are extended over the opercles and summit of 

 the head as far as the nostrils. 



Colours — Greenish black, with vermilion spots irregularly disposed over the body. Pectoral, 

 second dorsal, and caudal tipped with scarlet : first dorsal dark, more especially at its base. Second 

 dorsal with four or five black bars on a deep grey ground. Caudal also barred with brown, but 

 having some scarlet spots mostly at its upper part, occasionally it has a black base. Pectoral 

 black, with its base margined with bright scarlet, and with some irregular transverse black bands 

 and red blotches upon it. Anal deep grey barred with brown, and margined with scarlet. Eyes 

 hazel. In the monsoon time the dark red on the fins becomes more of an orange colour, and 

 numerous orange dots appear on the body below the lateral line, also on the throat and under 

 surface of the abdomen. As the monsoon continues the upper half of the caudal becomes whitish, 

 and the scarlet margin to the anal also becomes white. 



Grows to six inches in length ; common in the sea and also in the backwaters. Is eaten by 

 the Natives. 



Habitat — Seas of India, Malaysia, China, and the Philippine Islands. 



Eleoteis fusca. 

 P/ECiLiA fusca, Bl. Schn. p. 453. 



Cheilodipterus culius, Ham. Bach. pp. 55, 367, pi. 5, f. 1G. 

 Eleotris nigra, Guv. & Vol. xii. p. 233. 

 Eleotris fusca, Giinther, Catal. iii. p. 125. 

 Poollan, Hal. 



B. vi. D. 6 |f P. 17. V. J. A. £. C. 15. L. 1. 60-65. L. tr. 21-23. Vert. Q, 



Length of head rather more than \, of pectoral \, of caudal ^, of base of first dorsal T L, 

 of base of second dorsal \, of base of anal t 'q of total length. Height of head \, of body J, of 

 first dorsal yg, of second dorsal ^, of ventral \, of anal ^ of total length. 



Eyes — Transversely oval, situated near the profile ; horizontal diameter rather more than £, 

 vertical diameter \ of the length of head, \\ diameters apart, 1 diameter from the end of the 

 snout. 



Body broad in front, compressed behind, and nearly as wide across the shoulder as it is high : 

 the abdominal profile more curved than that of the back, which is nearly straight. 



Head depressed, upper jaw oblique and slightly protrusible, extending posteriorly to beneath 

 the centre of the orbit: lower jaw horizontal. Preopercle, with the posterior limb directed 

 slightly backwards, its angle rounded, and a sharp spine directed downwards and a little for- 



Q 2 



