the fishes of malabar. 125 



Teuthis Java. 



Teuthis Javus, Linn. Sys. i. p. 507 ; Cantor, Catal. p. 207. 

 Worahwah, Bussell, pi. 102. 

 Amphacanthus Javus, Cuv. & Val. x. p. 118. 

 Teuthis Javus, G-iinther, Catal. iii. p. 315. 



B. v. D. \l P. 18. V. f. A.f C. 17. 



Length of head §, of pectoral ^, of caudal J, of base of dorsal §, of base of anal § of total 

 length. Height of head i of body §, of hard dorsal j, of soft dorsal \, of ventral \, of anal 1 of 

 total length. 



Eyes — Rather oblique and oval, being lowest in front j at the anterior third of the superior 

 margin they are defended by an elevated finely serrated crest. Transverse diameter \, vertical 

 diameter f of length of head, 1J diameters from the anterior end of the intermaxillaries. 



Body elliptical, rather prolonged at either extremity. Upper and lower profiles equally convex. 

 Intermaxillaries forming a raised knob at the anterior point of the superior profile. Sides of 

 body and head strongly compressed. 



Mouth small, its depth rather less than its width. Posterior extremity of the maxilla extends 

 to beneath the posterior nostril. Appearances of the head the same as in the T. vermiculata. 

 Preorbital roughened superiorly in lines running into one another, and smooth on its anterior 

 inferior portion. Horizontal margin of the preopercle with a few very fine serratures, its length 

 is rather more than three fourths of its vertical limb. Opercle about two thirds as long as wide, 

 ending in a dull rounded extremity. Interorbital space with a tongue-shaped shallow depression, 

 rounded superiorly opposite the anterior third of the orbit, broadest opposite the anterior margin 

 of the orbit : whilst a very indistinct ridge runs along its centre, and in its anterior half throws out 

 lateral branches. Above the orbit there are some raised (but not well developed) coalescing 

 ridges. Nostrils rather wide apart, the distance of the anterior one from the end of the preorbital 

 equals the distance of the posterior one from the anterior margin of the orbit, whilst they are 

 nearly as far asunder. 



Teeth — In one flat compressed row in the jaws. 



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

 third dorsal spine ; and anal opposite eighth dorsal spine. Dorsal spines strong, shaip, and capable 

 of being laid flat, but no groove exists in the back to receive them, their base occupies five sevenths 

 of the entire fin : interspinous membrane deeply notched ; from the fourth all the spines are nearly 

 of equal length, but the last is somewhat higher : of the soft portion the second, third, and fourth 

 rays are the longest, it is of rather a triangular shape with a rounded extremity. Anal of the 

 same shape as the dorsal, the spines rather stronger, and occupying three fifths of the entire fin. 

 A very short portion of the base of the tail finless. Caudal deeply emarginate. 



Lateral line — First passes along the upper fifth of the back following its curve, but rather 

 approaching it ; towards the end of the dorsal it becomes central. 



Colours — Head, back, and sides lightish brown with a tinge of blue, becoming paler towards 

 the abdomen. On the head and back there are numerous pale bluish grey rounded spots, which 

 towards the lateral fine become oval, and below it are produced forming lines, the ground 

 colour between, being of about equal width : they here and there coalesce, but towards the 

 abdomen are in alternate bands. Sides of the head of a lightish brown, shot with sulphur. Pec- 



