138 THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 



most apparent on the upper portion. Pectoral fin with a light base, dark at its outer third owing 

 to the membrane being minutely dotted with black. Ventral and anal white, the latter greyish 

 near its anterior extremity, but with a white margin. Both dorsals appear grey, owing to their 

 being minutely dotted with black points, the outer margin of the second dorsal is lighter than its 

 basal half. Caudal light coloured, with the external and posterior margins grey, due to the 

 presence of minute black dots. 



It is from this species of mullet that the fine fish roes are obtained for which Cochin is so 

 famous. The roe is removed as soon as the fish is captured, and is then dried in the sun. The 

 season commences about the middle of October, or beginning of November, when these fish swarm 

 into the river to deposit their spawn. By the month of February mullets known as Cunnumboo, 

 Mai. begin to be scarce, and by April they are almost unprocurable. 



This species is excellent eating when not more than a foot and a half in length, for the larger 

 ones are dry. It grows to three feet in length. 



Habitat — Red Sea, Seas of India and of Malaysia. 



* MUGIL SUBVIRIDIS. 



Mugil subviridis, Cuv. & Vol. xi. p. 115; GuntJier, Catal. iii. p. 423. 



D. 4 | l. A.f. L. 1. 30. L. tr. 11. 



Length of head T 3 g of the total length, and pectoral rather shorter than the length of the head, 

 the snout not included. Height of body •§ of the total length. 



Eyes — With adipose lids well developed : the distance between the eyes is equal to f of the 

 length of the head. 



Snout broad, obtuse, depressed, and as long as the eye ; its anterior margin is formed by the 

 upper lips which are moderately thick. The maxilla is bent downwards behind and below the 

 angle of the mouth, where its extremity is visible. A very obtuse angle made by the anterior 

 margins of the mandibular bones. Cleft of mouth at least thrice as broad as deep. The interman- 

 dibular space is rather short and cuneiform. Preorbital angularly bent, its extremity subtruncated 

 and denticulated. 



Fins — Eighteen scales between the snout and the origin of the first dorsal fin. Pectoral 

 is inserted above the middle of the height of the body, it has a very obtuse and rudimentary scale 

 in its axil (absent according to Dr. Giinther) and extends to the seventh horizontal row of scales. 

 The eleventh and twentieth scales of the lateral line correspond to the origins of the dorsal fins. 

 Nearly the whole of the anterior half of the anal is before the second dorsal. Caudal emarginate. 



Scales — Extend over body, cheeks, lower jaw, summit of head, and the soft dorsal and anal 

 fins. 



Colours — Back greyish green : sides silvery, shot with golden : caudal stained with black. 



Grows to eight inches in length. 



Habitat — Seas of India. 



MUGIL SUNDANENSIS. 



Mugil SUNDANENSIS, Sleeker, Sumatra, ii. p. 265; Giinther, Catal. iii. p. 425. 



B. v. D. 4 | l. P. 15. V. 1 A. |. L. 1. L. tr. 9. 



Length of head \, of pectoral ), of caudal T 2 T , of base of first dorsal T Vy, of base of second 



