162 THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 



short finless space between the terminations of the dorsal and anal, and the commencement of 

 the caudal. Dorsal spines strong, the spinous portion occupying seven tenths of the length of 

 the base of the fin ; the interspinous membrane deeply notched and longer than the spines : the 

 fourth ray is the longest, and extends to three fourths the length of the caudal : the last is the 

 shortest, being not quite a fourth of the length of the longest ray. The anal spines occupy seven 

 tenths of the length of the base of the fin, and both spines and rays are the same as in the dorsal. 

 Both dorsal and anal spines can be laid fiat in a groove. Pectoral rather pointed. Ventral spine 

 moderately strong, and a third longer than any of the dorsal spines. Caudal broad at its extremity 

 and slightly emarginate. 



Scales — Ctenoid, covering the opercles, none on the snout, between the eyes, or on the 

 preorbitals, but they are extended on to the caudal, and along the base of dorsal and anal fins in 

 the form of a scaly sheath. 



Lateral line — In upper fourth of body, extending along about sixteen scales, and ceasing 

 opposite the twelfth dorsal spine. 



Colours — Light green, with eight vertical bands, the first passes over the occiput, the last 

 across the base of the caudal, and the other six are intermediate. Most of the scales above the 

 lateral line have a central white pearly spot, whilst there are some irregular black spots over the 

 abdomen. The dorsal, caudal, ventral, and anal are of a dark leaden colour, the pectoral yellowish, 

 with a jet black base. 



Specimens from the salt water are of a deep purple colour, the bands almost black, and the 

 white spots very distinct. 



During the monsoon time the colours of this fish are most beautiful, the eight vertical bands 

 are more distinctly marked, the abdomen is nearly white, the back of a deep green, and the round 

 white spot on nearly every scale gleams like a small pearl. 



Very young fish have a large black ocellus surrounded by a white margin, extending from the 

 fourth to the tenth soft rays of the dorsal fin. 



Very common in all pieces of fresh water. Excellent eating, especially when of a large size. 

 It grows to upwards of a foot in length. It takes a bait freely, but is not so easily captured in a 

 net, as it appears to bury itself in the mud. 



Habitat — Fresh waters of Southern India and Ceylon. 



Etroplus maculates. 



Ch,etodon maculatus, Bloch, t. 427, f. 2 ; Cuv. & Vol. v. p. 489 ; Giinther, Catal. iv. 



p. 266. 

 Etroplus coruchi, Cuv. & Vol. v. p. 491, pi. 136 ; Jerdon, Madras Journ. xv. 



p. 142. 



PULLUTTAY, Mai. 



B. vi. D. '§. P. 14. V. i. A. L 3 . C. 16. L. 1. 35. L. tr. 21. 



Length of head f , of pectoral f , of base of dorsal ^, of base of anal §, of caudal \ of total 

 length. Height of head f , of body §, of hard dorsal ^j, of soft dorsal J, of ventral -J, of anal 

 spines T l r , of anal rays | of total length. 



Byes — Diameter ^ length of head, slightly more than 1 diameter from end of snout, 1 diameter 

 apart. 



