THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 127 



opposite the orbits. The height of tbo body opposito tho posterior extremities of the dorsal and 

 anal fins, equals one third the height opposite tho ventral and commencement of dorsal. 



Month small, upper jaw slightly the longest. Preopercle long and narrow, its inferior margin 

 rather oblique, and more than one third the length of its posterior border, which slopes downwards 

 and forwards. Opercle narrow. The distance from the nostril to the anterior edge of the upper 

 jaw equals two thirds the length from the posterior margin of the opercle to snout. 



Teeth — In a single compressed row in both jaws. 



Fins — Origins of dorsal, pectoral, and ventral on a line : anal commencing opposite seventh 

 dorsal spine. Dorsal spines weak ; they occupy two-fifths of the base of the fin, interspinous 

 membrane very slightly emarginate. Second ray of pectoral the longest. Ventral pointed. Anal 

 similar to dorsal. Caudal emarginate. 



Scales — Small, 



Lateral line — At first in upper fifth of back following its course to opposite the end of the 

 dorsal fin, from whence it passes direct to the centre of the caudal. It curves upwards in its course 

 over a lancet-shaped moveable spine, which is situated at the side of the tail, directed forwards, 

 and receivable into a sheath. 



Colours — Leaden black, with several badly marked yellow stripes or lines passing longitudi- 

 nally along the body in the young, but which in the adult are of a yellowish brown, with bluish 

 margins ; when the fish is dead it is of a dull leaden grey, and the abdomen fighter. Dorsal and 

 anal fins grey, with four longitudinal rusty bands. Pectoral in some specimens yellow, in others 

 dark grey. Ventral and caudal grey, the last usually margined with white. Iris golden. 



Grows to eighteen inches in length, and is eaten by the lower classes. 



Habitat — Seas of India and Polynesia. 



Genus ACEONUEUS, Gronow. 



ACANTHUEUS, sp., ClW. & Vol. 



Branchiostegals, five : pseudobranchiaa. Body oblong, compressed. Eyes lateral. One dorsal, the 

 spinous portion less developed than the soft. Anal with three spines. Ventrals thoracic. Tail on either 

 side armed with a strong moveable spine, directed forwards. Teeth in a single trenchant row in each jaw 

 and lobate superiorly : none on the vomer or palatine bones. Skin with vertical striae, in some species 

 having fine pointed elevations. No scales. 



ACEONURUS MELANURUS. 



Aceonurus melanueus, Guv. & Val. x. p. 240 ; Gi'mther, Catal. iii. p. 346. 



B.v. D. jf. P. 15. V. i. A. &. C. 17. 



Length of head nearly \, of pectoral nearly \, of caudal \, of base of dorsal rather more 

 than J, of base of anal § of total length. Height of head J, of body £, of hard dorsal T 2 g, of 

 soft dorsal ^, of ventral -j^, of anal j 2 5 of total length. 



Byes — Diameter ^ length of head, f of a diameter from end of snout, J a diameter apart. 



Body nearly oval, widest opposite the opercles, and strongly compressed. Mouth situated 

 opposite the centre of the body. Profile much elevated. 



