170 



THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 



where the raised longitudinal keel of the occipital process commences. Nostrils lar°-e approxi- 

 mating, and midway between orbit and snout. 



O O 



leeth — In intermaxillaries sharp, in a straight band of several rows, and which are rather 

 smaller in the lower jaws. Those on vomer and palate form two patches on either end of the 



mesial line, the internal pair being small and level with the front 

 portion of the large patches : the external largest portions are each 

 evidently formed of two confluent patches, a long anterior one and 

 a short posterior one behind the inner portion of the anterior patch : 

 thus the vomero-palatine teeth may be considered to be three 

 patches on either side more or less confluent with one another. 



^ ms — The dorsal fin commences opposite to the posterior third of the pectoral : ventral arises 

 midway between the centre of the orbit and the base of the caudal : the anal arises nearer the end 

 of the pectoral than it does to the base of the caudal. Dorsal spine very strong, granulated in 

 front, serrated in its upper posterior half, it and the pectoral spine are of equal length, the latter 

 also being granulated in front and serrated in its upper third, whilst posteriorly it is strongly 

 denticulated : the length of these spines equals the distance from the posterior margin of the orbit 

 to the end of the opercle. The dorsal rays are two thirds as high as the body. The caudal is 

 lobed, the superior lobe being slightly the longest. 



Lateral line — First ascends, opposite the first dorsal spine it bends downwards, and above the 

 ventral it becomes straight ; at the base of the caudal it divides into two branches, the upper 

 crossing over the base of three, the lower of four caudal rays : a second raised fine passes from the 

 commencement of the last, and downwards to the base of the anal fin. The lateral line consists 

 of raised, long and wide parallel tubes decreasing in size posteriorly. 



Colours — Brownish silvery, slightly plumbaceous on the back. Head bronzed. Fins greyish 

 with a yellowish tinge. 



Grows to a large size, and is eaten by the Natives. 



Habitat — Red Sea, and Seas and estuaries of India and Burmah. 



