34 MR. F, DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN. — [Jan. 10, 
jaw slightly the shortest, with a notch in its centre, which is curved 
upwards. Upper lip broad, superior maxillary considerably protru- 
sible ; it is bent downwards below and behind the angle of the mouth, 
where its extremity is visible. Preeorbital angularly bent, with a 
rounded, finely serrated margin. Nostrils rather wide apart ; the 
posterior largest, and nearer the orbit than it is to the anterior one. 
Interorbital space nearly flat. Snout broad, somewhat pointed in 
the centre. The cleft of the mouth is rather more than twice as 
broad as deep. The free space on the chin is moderately long, 
tongue-shaped. 
Pectoral fin situated a little above the central line of the body, 
and extending to the eighth scale; no elongated pointed scale at the 
axil. Twenty scales from the snout to the origin of the first dorsal, 
which commences nearer the snout than to the caudal fin, and above 
the eighth scale of the lateral line. Eight rows of scales between 
the two dorsal fins. 
First dorsal spines strong: first 3, the strongest ; second 8, ; 
third =4,; fourth ;3;. The spines, laid flat on the back, reach a little 
more than halfway from their origin to the base of the second dorsal. 
Second dorsal, caudal, anal, and pectoral have some fine scales at 
their base. Caudal deeply emarginate. Pectoral rounded. Ventral 
with a pointed scale at its origin. 
Teeth. A fine row of teeth in the upper jaw, more apparent in the 
young fish than in the older specimens. 
Scales. Rather irregular in size, highest from above downwards. 
Each scale on the body and base of the fins in the adult fish with a 
gland in its centre of a deep black colour. In the young fish these 
glands are not so apparent ; and until they reach about 3 inches the 
black central spots on the scales do not commence to show them- 
selves; but still each scale is marked by a central cavity of a rounded 
shape, but very irregular in size. The scales covering the head vary 
much in shape, the posterior ones being irregularly quadrilateral, 
the central one between the orbits nearly round but with deeply 
emarginated sides, two oval ones in front, which partially cover it. 
Colours. Greyish, shot with silver, lightest on the sides and ab- 
domen: each scale with a deep black central spot. Shot with pink 
and golden about the cheeks. Fins stained with grey. 
By no means rare at times ; but in some years they seem to almost 
absent themselves. They are rarely seen above 8 inches. Are good 
eating. 
OPHIOCEPHALUS STRIATUS, Bloch. 
Verarl or Wrahl (Mal.). 
Bi.¥.) Di 370i. b7 has 6: A. 23-26... Ov dBi0 Eee, 
5—7 
L. tr. 7" 
Length of specimens from 553, to 15,4, inches. 
These fish, known over most of India as the Morrul (Hind.), are 
said to attain to the length of 3 feet ; they inhabit all stagnant pools 
of water and rivers, whilst the young may be found in every paddy- 
