2G8 THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 



head as far as the second dorsal fin, along it the scales are larger than those on the sides : 

 laterally a second ridge is apparent in the upper third of the body, opposite the anterior dorsal it 

 passes as far backwards as the posterior extremity of the anal where it bends down close to the 

 abdominal line : a third badly marked ridge extends from the pectoral to the ventral and along the 

 edge of the abdomen as far as the anal fin, separating the side from the abdomen. 



Colours — In the immature. Ground colour buff with a tinge of red and there are about ten 

 vertical wide dark bands, from opposite the pectoral to the end of the caudal fin : they are much 

 wider than the ground colour : one passes across the back of the head, another over the snout. The 

 pectoral and ventral are black, with a white edge : the central portions of the two dorsals are also 

 black and their edges whitish. Sometimes between the bands there are intermediate spots ; or 

 the ground colour may be the darkest : or all the fins may be adorned with black rings each having 

 a black central spot. 



As the age of the fish increases the darker markings become obsolete. 



In the adult (my specimen is twenty-one inches in length) the upper surface of the back is of 

 an uniform grey, the abdominal surface whitish, stained with a dull red. Fins greyish, the vertical 

 ones having a reddish tinge, except the edges of the dorsals which are almost white. 



Common in Malabar, especially the immature. The flesh is considered nourishing, the livers 

 good for medicinal oils, and the skins for polishing wood. 



Habitat — Seas of India, Malaysia, China, and Japan. 



Fam. CARCHARI^!, Milll. and Henle. 



Genus SCOLIODON, Mull, and Henle. 



Snout flattened, more or less rounded, and moderately long. Nostrils central between the mouth and 

 the point of the snout, or nearer the mouth at the lateral margins of the snout. Labial cartilage minute 

 or absent. Spiracles none. Nictitating membrane distinct. Teeth of upper and lower jaws similar, except 

 an extra trenchant central one in the former, with its point directed outwards, but it is not denticulated ; 

 the outer part of the base forms a blunt ledge, in which an indentation may be absent or present. Pos- 

 terior dorsal fin either immediately opposite the aual or above its posterior extremity. A distinct caudal 

 groove above and below. Scales small, and three-keeled. Oviduct of embryo flocculent. 



SCOLIODON ACUTUS. 



Caech arias acutus, Riippell, Cliond. v. t. 18, f. 4. 



Scoliodon acutus, Cantor, Catal. p. 399 ; Grray, Catal. Brit. Mus. p. 41 ; Dumeril, 

 Icli. g6n. i. p. 345. 



Snout flattened, pointed : the distance from the nostril to the extremity of the snout, equals 

 two-thirds of that which separates the angles of the mouth, the breadth and width of which are 

 equal. Labial cartilage, if present, very minute. The fifth gill opening is situated above the 

 commencement of the pectoral fin. There is a distinct caudal groove both above and below. 



Teeth — Those in both jaws similar, but an odd central one exists in the upper, which is tren- 

 chant, smooth, and directed outwards, while in the immature it is considerably smaller than the 

 others. 



