THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 



* Narcine Ixdica. 



Xaectne Indica, Mull. & Henle, 35, t. ii. f. 2 ; Cantor, Catal. p. 417 ; Gray, Catal. 

 Brit. Mus. p. 102; Dumeril, Ich. gen. i. p. 517. 



Disk pentagonal, slightly broader than long, rounded anteriorly and provided with a broad 

 keel. Mouth small, protractile, surrounded by a circular fold of skin : a labial cartilage above and 

 beneath : lips moveable, not fixed to the jaws. Nasal valve straight, with a central projection. 

 Eyes much smaller than the air-holes. Spiracles immediately behind the eyes, then- margins 

 smooth. 



Teeth — In quincunx with a point in the middle : they project beyond the margin of the jaw 

 like an elliptical plate. 



Fins — The anterior dorsal commences behind the ventrals, and is smaller than the posterior, 

 its base equals half the length of its anterior margin : in the young its apex forms an acute angle, 

 but in the adult becomes rounded. The distance between the two dorsals equals that between the 

 posterior dorsal and the caudal. The size and shape of the two dorsals is similar. Ventrals 

 triangular. The tail is slightly longer than the body, except in the very young, when it is 

 shorter. 



The male appendages project but slightly beyond the inner margins of the ventral fin. 



Colours — Body and fins above reddish brown, with numerous irregularly sized chocolate 

 coloured spots : lower surface white. Pupil triangular, apex below. Iris golden. In the immature 

 the spots have a white margin. 



This fish — my specimens of which have been mislaid — is rare along the coast of Malabar, except 

 where there are rocks : to the south it is very abundant. It grows to eighteen inches in length. 

 " Out of the water they may be handled with impunity." — Cantor. 



Habitat — Seas of Malabar and Malaysia. 



Sub-Group.— With one dorsal fin. 

 Genus ASTEAPE, Mull. & Henle. 



G-enerally similar to the Genus Narcine. Snout short and without a keel. Frenulum of the nasal 

 valve with a cylindrical cartilage. Teeth pointed, each having a tetragonal base, and projecting slightly 

 beyond the margin of the jaw. A membraneous valve in both jaws. Eyes and spiracles approximating, the 

 latter smooth. Dorsal fin single, both it aud the caudal rounded. 



ASTRAPE DIPTERYGIA. 



Rajah dipterygia, Bl. Schn. 359. 



Astrape dipterygia, Cantor, Catal. p. 419 ; Gray, Catal. Brit. Mus. p. 103 ; Dumeril, 

 Ich. gen. i. p. 523. 



Disk rounded, as wide as long, covering the anterior margins of the ventrals. Snout short 

 without any keel. A membraneous valve to both jaws. Spiracles smooth, close to and much 

 larger than the eyes. A cylindrical cartilage to the bridle of the nasal flap. 



