THE PISHES OF MALABAR. 141 



the centre. Cleft of mouth rather more than twice as broad as deep. The free intennandibular 

 space tongue-shaped, and moderately long. 



Teeth— A fine row in the upper jaw, more apparent in the young than the adult. 



Fins— Pectoral fin a little above the central line of the body, and extruding fco the eighth 

 scale. No elongated scale at its base. Twenty scales from snout to origin of first dorsal, which 

 commences nearer the snout than the caudal fin, and above the eighth scale on tho lateral lint , 

 Eight scales between the two dorsal fins. First dorsal spines strong, the first the strong,-*! and 

 equal in length to the second : when laid flat they scarcely extend more than half way from then- 

 origin to the base of the second dorsal. Second dorsal, pectoral, anal, and caudal with some fine 

 scales at their bases. Caudal emarginate. Pectoral rounded. Ventral with a pointed scale at its 

 origin. 



Scales— Bather irregular in size, highest from above downwards, each scale on the body and 

 bases of the fins in the adult fish with a round or irregular cavity or gland in its centre of a deep black 

 colour ; in the young fish these are not so apparent, and until they are about three inches in leno-th 

 the black central spot is hardly discernible. The scales on the head vary much in shape, the pos- 

 terior ones being irregularly quadrilateral, and the central ones between the orbits nearly round, 

 but with deeply emarginated sides. 



Colours— Greyish shot with silver, lightest on the sides and abdomen, each scale with a deep 

 black central spot ; fins stained with grey : pinkish golden about the cheeks. 



Common in Cochin. Grows to eight inches in length ; is good eating. 



Habitat — Malabar. 



MUGIL CUNNUMBOO. 

 B. v. D. 4 |f P. 15. V. 1. A. T %. C. 15. L. 1. 34. L. tr. 11. 



Length of head J, of pectoral \, of caudal ^g, of base of first dorsal T L, of base of second 

 dorsal yL, of base of anal ^ of total length. Height of head ^, of body \, of first dorsal \, of 

 second dorsal ^, of ventral £, of anal \ of the total length. 



Eyes — With an adipose lid on either side A their width. Horizontal diameter f, vertical 

 diameter T 2 ff of the length of head : 1 a diameter from the end of snout : 2 diameters apart. 



Body rather broad, the upper profile more convex than that of the abdomen, which is nearly 

 straight. Head compressed so that a distinct ridge exists from the posterior superior angle of the 

 orbit to the upper edge of the base of the pectoral fin. 



Mouth rather pointed, the centre of the intermaxillaries forming 

 superiorly a rather broad knob, which inferiorly is notched in the centre 

 to receive the tubercle of the lower jaw. Upper jaw longest, and the 

 depth of the mouth one half of its width. Mandibulas broad and 

 flattened, the two meeting at an angle where there is a deep emargi- 

 nation, free space tongue-shaped. Preorbital triangular, strongly 

 bent at its external end, the extremity of which is rounded and ser- 

 rated, a few more serratures likewise exist along its inferior margin 

 which is notched near its extremity. Lower end of maxilla not 

 covered. Opercle ending superiorly in a fine point just above the 

 lateral ridge. Interorbital space flat. Posterior nostril broad, oval : 

 the anterior the smallest and circular, both situated rather above the 

 level of the orbit. Preopercle with a broad glandular opening opposite the lower third of the orbit, 

 a second at its angle directed backwards and downwards, whilst there is a third intermediate : 



