124 THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 



By es — Their upper margins close to the profile : diameter J length of head, l\ diameters from 

 end of snout, rather more than 1 diameter apart. 



Body oval, with superior and inferior profile about equally convex. From the snout to the 

 dorsal there is a considerable rise, the upper jaw being elevated like a parrot's bill. 



The upper jaw if anything is slightly the longest ; the maxilla extends about half .way to the 

 orbit. The mouth is narrow and the lips fleshy. The margins of the orbits are roughened in 

 places, owing to several furrows terminating there, but are not denticulated. Preorbital roughened 

 in irregular lines. Preopercle high and narrow, with its angle slightly produced and rounded, its 

 horizontal length being two thirds that of its vertical, the whole is roughened in lines which are 

 deepest about the angle and the horizontal portion, where they coalesce. Opercle narrow, about 

 twice as high as wide, and ending in a dull point. Branchiostegal rays entirely hidden by the 

 gill covers. Interorbital space with a ridge down its centre, and also along each side, approaching 

 each other closely at the snout. Nostrils rather wide apart, the distance of the anterior one from 

 the superior margin of the upper jaw equals the distance of the posterior one from the margin of 

 the orbit, whilst they are slightly less than this distance apart. Shoulder bones furrowed but 

 entire. 



Teeth — In jaws, in a single sharp and compressed row. 



Fins — Pectoral commences under opercle : dorsal opposite its middle third : ventral opposite 

 third dorsal spine, and the anal opposite the eighth dorsal spine. Dorsal spines strong, sharp, 

 and capable of being laid flat, but no groove exists on the back for their reception : their base 

 occupies five sevenths of the entire fin, interspinous membrane deeply notched : from the fourth 

 spine all are of nearly equal height excepting the last, which is rather produced. In the soft 

 portion the second, third and fourth rays are the longest, and this portion of the fin is of rather a 

 triangular shape, but rounded at its posterior extremity. Anal of the same shape as the dorsal, 

 but the spines are rather stronger, and occupy three fifths of the entire fin. Ventral with the 

 external spine stronger than the internal one : the fin of the generic type. Pectoral of an obtuse 

 triangular form, the second ray the longest. A very short portion of the base of the tail finless. 

 Caudal deeply emarginate. 



Scales— Small and cycloid extending over the whole body, and to the suborbital region. 

 Lateral fine— Conspicuous, in upper fifth of body, following the curve of the back : opposite 

 the end of dorsal it becomes straight, and central. 



Colours— Light brownish, running into a bluish green on the back, and light bluish on the 

 abdomen. The whole of the body, head, forehead, and lips are lineated with undulating, 

 narrow blue lines, some few of which end in thick rounded points ; as a rule they are about a 

 fourth the width of the ground colour which they encircle, but towards the abdomen the blue 

 portion becomes wider and lighter, so that it appears as if the lower surface of the fish were blue, 

 with brown undulating lines which are rounder, and shorter than those of the back. The tail and 

 the caudal fin also appear as if they were blue, with brown lines. The dorsal, ventral, and anal, 

 brownish, and the first and last stained with a dark slate colour. The caudal of a more or less 

 slate coloured tint, and also stained with black at its termination. Pectoral a light slate colour, 

 which after death rapidly turns yellowish. Eyes light coloured. In the young specimens the 

 convolutions are wider, and the back greener. 



It grows to eleven inches in length, and is asserted by the Natives to be good eating. 

 Habitat — Seas of Malabar, Malaysia, and the Mauritius. 



