152 THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 



Scales— Large, about one quarter longer than they are high. Those on the head are irregular 



in their shape. 



Lateral line— Is nearly straight, with the exception of a curve behind the end of the pectoral 

 fin. Its anterior portion is in the upper third of the body, its last portion central, it is marked by 

 a straight elevation along the centre of each scale. 



Colours— Back dirty green, fading to yellowish white on the abdomen. A dark stripe extends 

 from the eye to the tail, and from it several irregular bands pass towards the back, these are 

 most numerous in those taken in dirty water. These markings are often wanting in the young. 

 There are also some spots along the abdominal surface and on the dorsal and anal fins. 

 Pectorals grey. Ventrals whitish and without spots. 



Grows to one foot in length, and is esteemed for eating by the Natives. 



Habitat — Fresh waters of India, Ceylon, and Burmah. 



Fam. FISTULARIDiE, Mull. 

 AULOSTOMATOIDEI, et FlSTULAROIDEI, BUek&r. 



Genus FISTULAEIA, Lin. sp. 



Solenostomus, sp. Klein & Gronow. 

 Cannorhynchus, Cantor. 



Branchiostegals, five : pseudobranchise. Body elongated, depressed, anterior bones of skull elongated 

 forming a long depressed tube which ends in a narrow mouth, jaws slightly cleft, nearly horizontal. 

 Eyes lateral. Teeth small. One dorsal of moderate length and resembling the anal. Ventrals abdominal 

 with six rays. Caudal forked, the two middle rays ending in long filamentous prolongations. Scales absent. 

 Lateral line continuous. Air bladder large. Pyloric appendages in small numbers. Intestinal tract short. 



FlSTULARIA SERRATA. 



Fistularia serrata, Cuvier, Keg. Anim. ; Guniher, Catal. iii. p. 533. 



Goorum, Russell, pi. 173. 



Cannorhynchus immaculatus, Cantor, Catal. p. 211. 



B. vii. D. 13-17. P. 15. V. 6. A. 14-15. C. 2 + 6 | 2 | 6 + 2. 



Length of head \, of pectoral £$, of caudal without including its prolongation ^, of caudal 

 including its prolongation \, of base of dorsal ^, of base of anal ^ of the total length not 

 including the prolongation of its caudal fin. Height of head -^, of body ^, of dorsal ^, of anal 

 ■jJ ¥ , of ventral ^ of the total length not including the prolongation of its caudal fin. 



Eyes — Close to upper profile. Horizontal diameter yL, vertical diameter ^ of the length of 

 the head, 9 horizontal diameters from end of snout, nearly 1 horizontal diameter apart. 

 Body cylindrical, with an elongated flattened tubular snout. 



Orifice of mouth oblique, situated at the anterior tenth of the snout, lower jaw the longest, 

 and having a tubercle at the symphysis : the posterior half of the external margin of the snout 

 strongly denticulated, the most posterior denticulations being the longest and widest apart. Some 

 sharp denticulations along the anterior and posterior margins of the orbit, and the anterior margin 

 of which is extended into a sharp spine. There are two grooves along the upper surface of the 



