23G THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 



Lateral line — Not apparent. 



Colours — A tinge of green along- the back ; silvery tinged with purple on the abdomen. 

 Opercle bluish. A black mark on the occiput, and a line of fine black dots along the base of the 

 dorsal. Posterior extremity of caudal lobes darkish, and when alive shot with blue. 



Grows to six inches in length, and is esteemed for eating. 



Habitat — Seas of Malabar, Malaysia, New Guinea, and Bourbon. 



Alausa scombrina. 

 Alausa scombrina, Guv. & Vol. xxi. p. 442. 



B. vi. D. 14-15. P. 15. V. 9. A. 14-15. C. 21. L. 1. 45-50. 



Length of head above \, of pectoral ^, of base of dorsal T 2 7 , of base of anal \, of caudal \ 

 of the total length. Height of head J, of body J, of dorsal -£-, of ventral \, of anal j^ of the total 

 length. 



Eyes — Each with an adipose lid on either side, and their upper margins rather close to the 

 profile : diameter ^ of length of head, § of a diameter from end of snout, ^ a diameter apart. 



Body subcylindrical, its thickness equal to half its height. The abdominal profile slightly 

 more convex than that of its back. 



Lower jaw the longest ; the posterior extremity of the maxilla extends to beneath the anterior 

 third of the orbit. Opercular pieces large and smooth. 



Teeth — In a fine single row in either jaw, and extending along the margin of the maxilla. 

 Apparently none on the vomer, palatine bones, or tongue. 



Fins — The anterior extremity of the dorsal is situated midway between the snout and the base 

 of the caudal, and slightly behind the posterior extremity of the pectoral. The ventral arises 

 beneath the third dorsal ray : the anal midway between ventral and base of caudal. Dorsal highest 

 anteriorly, and rather pointed. Caudal deeply lobed. 



Scales — Of moderate size. 



Colours — Silvery, with a slight tinge of green along the back. 



Grows to eight inches in length and is good eating. It abounds in the rivers, and even in 

 the paddy fields and ditches at certain seasons. 



Habitat — Seas, estuaries, and even fresh waters of Malabar and the Seychelles. 



Genus Engraulis, Cuvier. 

 Setipinna, Swainson. 

 Thrissa, Rafin. 



Branchiostegals, from nine to fourteen, but varying in number not only in different specimens of the 

 same species but on either side of the head in the same individual. Body moderately elongated, rounded 

 or compressed : abdomen trenchant, toothed, serrated, or smooth. Eyes lateral with adipose lid3. Snout 

 projecting, pointed, the nasal bone advanced in front of the jaws : intermaxillaries soldered to the maxil- 

 laries, and hidden beneath the muzzle. Mouth cleft to far behind the eyes, upper jaw the longest, in some 

 the mamillaries are greatly elongated {Thrissa, Kafin). Dorsal medial : ventral small, in front of to beneath 



