136 THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 



Fins — Pectoral arises close to the posterior margin of the opercle, and above the central line 

 of the body : ventral opposite the posterior extremity of the pectoral ; first dorsal opposite the 

 posterior end of the ventral, and the breadth of one scale nearer the commencement of the anal 

 than to that of the ventral ; the second dorsal commences six scales behind the posterior extremity 

 of the first dorsal, and the anal arises rather in front of it. The spines of the first dorsal are fine, 

 with hair-like terminations, and the membrane is rather deeply cleft ; the first four are close 

 together, and the fifth rather further apart. Pectoral slightly pointed, with a rather broad base. 

 Second dorsal highest in frout, with the upper margin rather concave : anal of the same shape. 

 Caudal rather deeply lobed. 



Scales — Cycloid, and large, vertical diameter the greatest. The lateral line in the third row 

 and in the centre of its course consists of two parallel tubes, above them is a semicircular notch 

 excavated from the posterior margin of the scales : both anteriorly and posteriorly it consists of 

 badly marked circular orifices. 



Colours — Silvery, with the upper surface of the head and back of a pale sea green, and with 

 numerous fine points of black. A steel blue line, darkest above, extends along the third row of 

 scales and also the upper third of the fourth. Cheeks and opercles shining silvery : muzzle and 

 lips blackish. Fins diaphanous : margins of dorsal spines, and the rays of the pectoral and caudal 

 finely dotted with black. Iris silvery. 



Very abundant in Malabar during the monsoon months, but a few are always present. It is 

 one of several genera which are known to the Europeans as " Whitebait," like which it is dressed, 

 especially for the breakfast table. It rarely exceeds four inches in length. 

 Habitat — Red Sea, Malabar, and Malaysia. 



Fam. MUGILID^E. 

 Genus MUGIL, Artedi 



Branchiostegals, from five to six : pseudobranchiae. Body more or less oblong and compressed. Eyes 

 lateral. Cleft of mouth transverse and laterally short. Anterior margin of mandible sharp. Teeth in 

 jaws feeble or absent. Two dorsals widely separated ; the first with four spines, the second longer but not 

 so long as the anal, which is opposite it. Ventral abdominal, with one spine and five rays suspended from 

 an elongated coracoid bone. Grill openings wide. Scales cycloid, and of moderate size. Lateral line absent. 

 A portion of stomach very muscular. Vertebra? twenty-four. 



a. With adipose eyelids. 

 MUGIL CUNNESIUS. 



Cunnesee, Russell, pi. 181. 



Mugil cunnesius, Guv. & Val. xi. p. 114; Cantor, Catal. p. 100 ; Giinther, Catal. iii. 



p. 434. 

 Mahlah, Mai. 



B. v. D. 4. | J. P. 17. V. i A. f. C. 14. L. 1. 41-43. L. tr. 13-15. 



Length of head T 3 ? , of pectoral j 2 5 , of caudal ^, of base of first dorsal y^, of base of second 



