242 THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 



* COILIA DuSSUMIERI. 



Coilia Dussumieri, Cuv. & Vol. xxi. p. 81, pi. 610. 



D. 14. P. &. V. 7. A. 80. C. 11. L. 1. 60. 



Distinguishable from the C. Reynaldi by the size of the pectoral, the free rays of which are 

 rather shorter : and the dorsal is not quite so pointed. 



Teeth — Fine and similar to the C. Reynaldi. 



Colours — Body of a brilliant golden, having two or three irregular rows of T3acreous spots 

 along its inferior half. 



Grows to six inches in length, and is considered good eating at Bombay, where it is common 

 and abundant throughout the whole year. 



Habitat — Seas and estuaries of India. 



Genus CHATOESSUS, Guvier. 



Branchiostegals, about six. Body short, deep, oval, and moderately compressed : abdomen trenchant 

 and denticulated. Eyes with lateral adipose lids. Muzzle projecting, intermaxillary small, attached to the 

 extremity of the snout, and with what looks like a fibrous lip stretched from its extremity and continuing 

 it to the upper end of the maxilla, which bone is placed behind it, and articulates with the tuberosity of 

 the nasal. There is an emargination at the end of the upper jaw and a corresponding tubercle on the 

 lower. A single dorsal, medial, with the last ray prolonged in some species. Ventral in front of or under 

 dorsal. Anal elongated and behind the dorsal. Caudal forked. No teeth. The superior combs of the 

 first branchial arches unite with those of the opposite side, forming a pennated point under the palate. 

 Air vessel large, rounded anteriorly, and pointed posteriorly. Pyloric appendages numerous. 



Chatoessus CHACUNDA. 



Clupanodon chacunda, Ham. Buck. pp. 246, 383. 



Chatoessus chacunda, Cuv. & Vol. xxi. p. Ill ; Cantor. Catal. p. 311. 



B. vi. D. 19-20. P. 17. V. 8. A. 20. C. 19. L. 1. 45. L. tr. 11-13. 



Length of head ^ T , of pectoral -^, of caudal \, of base of dorsal -fj, of base of anal -^ of 

 total length. Height of head \, of body \, of dorsal y T , of ventral y 1 ^, of anal about ^ of the 

 total length. 



Eyes — Covered on their anterior and posterior thirds by adipose lids, having vertical elliptical 

 openings : diameter £■ of the length of head, f of a diameter from end of snout, 1 diameter apart. 



Body rather oval : abdominal profile sharp and keeled. 



Lower jaw the longest, the superior slightly emarginate at the symphysis, receiving the upper 

 portion of the lower jaw : cleft of mouth narrow : maxilla extends posteriorly to opposite the 

 anterior third of the orbit, and has supplementary bones posterior to it. Opercle placed rather 

 obliquely, twice and a fourth as high as broad : exposed portion of the subopercle wider than 

 high. Preopercle of moderate width, angle rounded, lower limb horizontal. Interorbital space 

 smooth, rather elevated longitudinally along the central line : some raised ridges bound the 

 posterior portion of a triangular depression on the summit of the head, passing from the posterior 



