THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 231 



Cochin only 45 cwt. of fish oil were exported, the next year merely 181 cwt., but in 1857-58, 

 68,499 cwt., which augmented in tho succeeding year to 102,924 cwt., and the year after to 

 133,143 cwt. Again it gradually fell off until in 1862-63, as little as 115 cwt. were exported, but 

 the shoals suddenly returned and in 1863-64, the exports rose to the enormous quantity of 148,206 

 cwt. The fish is excellent eating, but too fat to salt well. Its general length is from six to seven 

 inches. 



Habitat — Seas of Malabar and Ceylon. 



Genus PELLONA, Valen. 

 Platygaster, Swainson. 



x i 



Brancliiostegals, six. Body rather elongated and compressed, abdomen strongly toothed. Mouth of 

 moderate size. Upper jaw emarginate hi the majority of the species, and shorter than the lower. Dorsal 

 fin medial, ventral inserted before the dorsal, anal elongated. Teeth on jaws, palatine and pterygoid bones 

 also on the tongue, but none on the vomer. Scales large or of moderate size. Air vessel present, commu- 

 nicating with the oesophagus by a small duct inserted at the extremity of the stomach. 



* Pellona Dussumieri. 

 Pellona Dussumieri, Cuv. & Vol. xx. p. 316, pi. 596. 



B. vi. D. 18. P. 16. V. 6. A. 44-54. C. 21. 



Length of head nearly \ of the total length. Height of the body \ of the total length. 



Eyes — Diameter \ of length of head. 



Teeth — Those on the maxilla almost horizontal behind the bone on which they are inserted. 



Body oblong, the lower profile more convex than that of the back. 



Lower jaw considerably advanced before the upper. The opercle has some strias upon it, and 

 the preopercle some veins. 



Fins — Dorsal high in front : its last rays very low, and its border sloping very obliquely; it is 

 entirely scaled, and the base of the rays is in a groove formed by rows of scales on either side 

 larger than those of the back. The pectoral has a long scale at its axil, its first ray is strong, and 

 its extremity rounded. The ventral small, and arises near the end of the pectoral, on the chest, 

 and in advance of the dorsal : no long scale at its base. Anal long and very low, the number of 

 its rays varies. 



Scales — Large and smooth, those on the abdominal keel similar to those of the other species 

 of this genus. 



Colours — Glittering with a beautiful silvery lustre : back fawn colour with a green reflection. 

 The fins bordered with black. 



Grows to one foot in length. 



Habitat — Malabar. 



