1865.] MR. F, DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN. 11 
Lateral line passes parallel with the back in the upper quarter of 
the body. 
Colours. These do not vary very much, except that in the young 
fish they are rather brighter; and also it must be noted that they 
soon commence to fade after the fish has been taken out of the water ; 
then the brilliancy of its red decreases, and its back becomes rather 
brownish grey. Each scale is rather darker at its base than at its 
margin. Below the lateral line it is of a bright deep lake-colour, 
above of a brownish red, with the base of each scale of a greyish-ash 
or brown colour. Under surface of the throat and chest scarlet, with 
a shade of orange. Cheeks orange scarlet. A bright blue zigzag 
line passes along either side of the snout on the lower margin of the 
preorbital and suborbital ring of bones. Hard portion of dorsal 
brownish grey; soft, of an orange scarlet. Anal, hard portion 
greyish, soft scarlet. Caudal scarlet. Pectoral scarlet, stained with 
darker at its margins. Eye bluish grey, with a golden-red centre. 
Common at Cochin; excellent eating; and grows to a large size. 
MESOPRION RUBELLUS, Cuv. & Val. 
B.vii, DU. P16. Vit. ALS. C1174. 1.1.46. L. tr. 2 
. s—9° 
inches 
Length of specimen.. .. .. 173. 
0 LTT 5;4, or two-sevenths of total length. 
of pectoral ...... 4,%,, or one-fourth of total length. 
—_ of caudal........ 3,2;, or two-elevenths of total length. 
of base of dorsal.. 7;4,, or two-fifths of total length. 
of base of anal... 2, or one-ninth of total length. 
Height of head ........ 4, or two-ninths of total length. 
af body Viwes «5. 5=4;, or two-sevenths of total length. 
of hard dorsal.... 254;, or one-ninth of total length. 
of soft dorsal .... 2, or one-ninth of total length. 
of base of caudal.. 1,5,, or one-tenth of total length. 
——-— of ventral........ 3, or one-sixth of total length. 
of anal.......... 2,4, or one-ninth of total length. 
Diameter of eye 1,4,x 5% inch, or +4 of length of head, |; 
apart, 1,9, from end of snout. 
A very considerable rise from the snout to the commencement of 
the dorsal fin. Lower jaw very slightly the longest. Superior 
maxillary bones reach to opposite the anterior one-third of the orbit. 
Preeoperculum almost vertical in the upper portion of its ascending 
limb; in the lower third (opposite the interoperculum) slightly 
emarginate, finely serrated in the whole of its extent ; angle slightly 
rounded, with three or four blunt denticulations ; lower limb oblique, 
entire. Sub- and inter-opercula entire. Two very blunt points to 
operculum ; no spines. Suprascapular serrated. Scapular and cora- 
coid entire. No knob to the interoperculum. 
Teeth. Canines, exposed portion ;%; inch. An external series 
of large conical teeth in lower jaw, and also in the upper, but smaller. 
