THE PISHES OF MALABAR. I 55 



head beyond the end of the jaw. Clefi of mouth small, and extending aboul half-way to the orbit. 



Preoperele with two spines at its angle directed backwards and downwards, and some fine serra- 

 tures along its lower limb. A rather long, strong, sharp, and erectile preorbital spine. 



Teeth — Several rows <>'f sharply pointed teeth, directed backwards, in both upper and lower 

 jaws. 



Fins — Dorsal spines strong, short and sharp, commencing about the termination of the first 

 fifth of the body. Soft dorsal, caudal and anal united. Anal spines strong, the central one the 

 longest and strongest, the third nearly hidden ; they can be laid flat in a kind of sheath. 



Scales — Cover the whole of the head, including tho interoi'bital space, and to the end of the 

 snout. There are thirteen rows between the orbit and the angle of tho preoperele. 



Lateral line — As in the last species. 



Colours — Greenish brown. A yellowish white streak passes from just .above the eye, along 

 the lateral line to the centre of the caudal. Abdomen from vent to head of dull yellowish white, 

 with a number of blotchy markings extending on to it from the sides. Opercles greyish brown, 

 and the throat of the same colour. Preoperele of a lighter tint, and the lower jaw of a dirty white. 

 Soft portion of the dorsal dotted with brown, and with fourteen irregular blotches along its base, 

 extending on to the back. Caudal with a black bar at its base, and four or five lighter ones 

 between that and its extremity. Anal irregularly spotted. 



Very common in the paddy fields and in the backwater at Trichoor. 



Grows to seven inches in length. Is good eating. 



Habitat — Malabar. 



x 2 



