THE FISHES OF MALABAR. L29 



Bedula Hamiltomi, Gray, 111. I. X., ii. pi. 88, £ 3. 

 Bedula nebulo.sa, Gray, Ibid. f. 2. 



MOOTAHREE, Mill. 



B. vi. D. }?:}+. P. 16. V. J. A. f \. C. 15. L. 1. 46-55. L. tr. jVtV Vert - 24 - 



Length of head \, of pectoral y^, of caudal yj , of base of dorsal -§, of base of anal yj of total 

 length. Height of head \, of body fa, of hard dorsal y 1 ^, of soft dorsal T 2 5 , of ventral nearly },, 

 of anal y^ of total length. 



Eyes — Rather transversely oval, nearly bordering on the profile. Diameter ^ of length of 

 head, rather more than 1 diameter from end of snout, and 1 diameter apart. 



Snout rather elevated, and profile slightly concave opposite the orbits, from whence it rises to 

 the dorsal fin, the abdominal line not being so curved as that of the back. Body compressed, espe- 

 cially towards the tail, opposite the commencement of the dorsal fin, its thickness equals half 

 its height. 



Mouth wide, lips thin, extremity of the upper jaw reaching to opposite the posterior margin 

 of the orbit. Intermaxillaries very protrusible, extending the length of the orbit, behind its 

 posterior border. Preopercle very finely serrated, especially about its angle, which is rounded : 

 horizontal hmb two-thirds the length of the vertical one. Opercle with one well-marked fine sharp 

 spine posteriorly, above its centre. Sub- and interopercles with some very fine serratures at their 

 approximating portions, which are continued a short distance along the inferior margin of the 

 interopercle. Between the centre of the superior orbital margin and the muzzle there are three 

 distinct fossae, and three more on the preorbital, whilst below the symphysis of the lower jaw there 

 are two pores and two fossa? posteriorly on each ramus. Between the orbit and the angle of the 

 preopercle are fourteen series of scales, and across the opercles about thirteen. Nostrils close to 

 the orbit, and opposite its superior third. 



Teeth — Minute, in villiform bands on the jaws, vomer and palate. In the lower jaw there are 

 several rows at the centre, but only one or two on each ramus. In the upper jaw the teeth are 

 villiform and most numerous at its centre, but they decrease in width at the sides ; intermixed 

 with these there are a few larger ones in each jaw. 



Fins — Origins of dorsal, pectoral and ventral on a line : anal commences opposite the soft 

 dorsal. Dorsal spines rather strong, their base occupying rather more than three fourths of the 

 fin, and are receivable into a groove : the interspinous membrane is deeply notched : soft portion 

 square. Pectoral short and rounded. Ventral spine weak and the fin short. Anal spines mode- 

 rately strong, the centre one the longest and two thirds the length of the rays : there is a groove 

 at its base : soft portion square. Caudal large, and cut square. 



Scales — Ctenoid, covering the body, head, and even the upper jaw : none on the lower jaw ; 

 they are rather smaller on the nape than on the body. There are some on the bases of the soft 

 dorsal and anal fins. 



Lateral line — Consists of minute tubes bifid at each extremity. At first it proceeds in the 

 upper fourth of the body for about thirty-six scales, where it abruptly ceases, but is subsequently 

 continued four rows lower down to the centre of the caudal. 



Colours — Greenish brown with brassy reflections, marbled vertically with three wide patch}' 

 streaks, whilst a fourth dark one passes across the base of the caudal fin. Hard portion of the 

 dorsal diaphanous : the soft spotted with transverse bands of brown. Caudal darkest near its 

 base, but with a light line dividing it from the vertical dark marking. Caudal and soft portion of 

 the anal spotted in transverse bars. 



