THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 183 



Body widest opposite the opcrcles, profile rises to the first dorsal, and from thence gradually 

 sinks to the caudal. Abdominal surface more convex than that of the back. 



Gape of mouth extends across the front of tho head, and its cleft to beneath the posterior third 

 of the orbit. Lower jaw rather the longest, roughened below. Central longitudinal groove on 

 head lanceolate, widest opposite the posterior extremity of the orbit ; extending anteriorly to the 

 snout, posteriorly to midway between the snout and the base of the occipital process. Occipital 

 process rugose, as wide at the base as it is high, and extending to the basal bone of the first 

 dorsal. Sides of head roughened. Opercles slightly lineated, and covered with small round de- 

 pressions. Apertures of nostrils circular, approximating, the posterior one covered by a valve, 

 close to the anterior superior angle of the orbit, and the anterior one situated just in front of it. 

 Two short mandibular cirri exist, equal in length to a fourth of the diameter of the eye. Shoulder 

 bones almost naked, marked with depressions. Basal bone of dorsal spine crescent-shaped, and 

 narrow. 



Teeth — In upper jaw in from four to five rows, with long rather obtuse heads, the two anterior 

 rows — which contain the largest teeth — separated by a short interspace from three posterior ones. 

 The outer band of the upper jaw extends furthest laterally. Teeth in lower jaw the same as in 

 the* upper : those in the palate rather smaller but of the same description, placed in two straight 

 widely separated patches. 



Fins — First dorsal arises opposite the middle of the pectoral : ventral midway between the 

 snout and the posterior extremity of the lower lobe of the caudal : anal opposite end of ventral : 

 adipose dorsal over the fifth anal ray. The first spine of the dorsal is equal to the distance from 

 the angle of the mouth to the posterior extremity of the bony opercle : it is laterally compressed and 

 not quite so high as the first ray : also serrated posteriorly in the upper half, and anteriorly rugose 

 in its whole extent ; the rays decrease in length from the first to the last. The adipose dorsal is 

 one and a half times as long as wide. Pectoral spine compressed, stronger, and one sixth longer 

 than that of the dorsal, serrated interiorly, rugose in its whole extent externally. Ventral rounded. 

 Anal with the fifth ray the longest, from which they decrease to the last. Caudal lobed, the lower 

 lobe the longest. 



Lateral line — Gradually sinks to opposite the base of the anal, being almost concave above, 

 and from thence it proceeds direct to the base of the caudal, where it divides into two branches, 

 the upper of which crosses over the base of the two rays above, and then goes direct to the end of 

 the caudal, the lower branching downwards in the same manner. 



Colours — Upper surface of head and body silvery, becoming white on the abdomen. Dorsal 

 dark grey, tipped with black. Superior half of the upper lobe of the caudal black. Pectoral with 

 a slightly greyish tint : other fins yellowish. Eyes golden. 



By no means rare at Cochin, especially in the cold months. Grows to a foot and a half in 

 length, but is not esteemed for eating, although the lower classes of Natives employ it as food. 



Habitat — Seas of India and Malaysia. 



