I'HE (lAME FISHES OF THE FEliSlAy tiULf. li>r, 



Anal. — Is similar to the posterior dorsal transposed, though the rays are 

 not quite so long, but equally developed. There are three very sharp 

 stout spines just anterior to anal tin. The root of the tail is very stumpy, 

 but the rays of the caudal are very well-developed. 



Caudal. — Straight cut, but convex in the centre. 



iV/n'c. —First spine is hard but not sharp, remainder rayed, a peculiar 

 flap of cartilage like the point of a triangular bayonet conies out of the 

 rin-pit. 



Fectoral. — Very slender and long, the tip reaching to the base of the 

 posterior dorsal tin — a black patch in the tin-pit. 



Lateral line. — Convex curve from top of gill plate to root of tail and 

 slightly ridged. 



Scales. — Small-transparent. 



Colour. — General colour silvery; the upper half of the tish (specimen 

 fxamined weighed 3 lbs.) is marked with black spots about the size of those 

 on a pound trout. 



General appearance. — A very deep and compressed tish, almost as deep us 

 it is long ; a line from the mouth along the belly and the first anal spine is 

 practically straight. 



Remarks. — Day gives the local name of this fish as follows : — 



Belooch, Shuk : Arrakanese, Shengnaroet: Burmese, Nga-Shengua. The 

 similarity between Shungoo and Shengua (for '"nga" in Burmese merely 

 means fish) is most striking. Can it possibly be a mere coincidence that 

 two countries situated so far apart as Burma and Fersian Mekran should 

 each call the same fish by a name that is almost identical 'f Such a con- 

 tention is inconceivable. It is a problem that should be of more than 

 passing interest to the Etymologist ; more so as the intermediate Tamil and 

 Telegu names bear no resemblance whatsoever to the Burma-Mekrau root. 

 The maximum weight to which the shungoo grows would be about 5 lbs. 



Another fish which is extremely common in Jask waters is termed by the 

 locals 



SUNGSEK. 



Holacanthus aanthurus (?) 



The identity of this species has not been fully established, a detailed 

 description of a specimen is therefore appended. 



}Vei(/ht.—3 lbs. 10 oz. 



Length to tip of tail. — 1 ft. 8:^ inches. 



Girth. — 14 inches. 



Head. — Is remarkable for a prominent lump a little distance behind the 

 eyes. 



Ei/e. — Large, iris iridescent, in some lights sky blue, in other lights olive 

 green, shot with yellow. 



reeiA.—Villiform rows on the upper and lower jaws; they are entirely 

 absent on the tongue and palate. The upper and lower portions of the 

 gullet are composed of a moveable cartilaginous pad almost like very fragile 

 and porous bone. These crushing pads support on their anterior edge an 

 upper and lower strip of sharp villiform teeth. The remainder of both upper 

 and lower pads is studded with hard conical teeth, some of wdiicli are more 

 dome-shaped than conical. The inner edge of the gill situated anteriorly 

 is furnished with soft projections (combings) surmounted by villiform 

 teeth. 



Fins anterior dorsal. — Composed of 8 very strong and stout spines widely 

 separated and connected by a thin transparent membrane. The extre- 

 mities of the spines are extremely sharp. Protruding anteriorly from the 



