1865.] MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN. 9 
anterior margin of the orbit. The openings of the nostrils rather 
wide apart, and opposite the upper fourth of the orbit. Preeorbital 
entire. Przeoperculum finely serrated on the posterior edge of its 
vertical limb, very slightly emarginate opposite the interoperculum, 
curved at its angle, where the serrations become coarser, but they 
decrease again as they approach the anterior end of the lower limb, 
which is slightly oblique. Sub- and inter-opercula entire. Oper- 
culum with two points, hardly to be termed spines, and terminating 
in an acute fleshy extremity. Scales on the opercula ; but none either 
between or in front of the orbits. Two broad bands of scales pass 
over the shoulders, separated by two or three rows of smaller ones. 
Suprascapular denticulated ; scapular and humeral entire. 
Teeth. An external row of large sharp teeth in the lower jaw, and 
several villiform rows in the centre. Upper jaw the same; inter- 
maxillaries crowded with small teeth en velour, and having two canines 
on either side, the external of which is curved and very large in 
comparison to the size of the fish. 
Fins. Origin of dorsal and pectoral in a line, the latter reaching 
as far backwards as the anal; ventral slightly behind pectoral ; anal 
arises opposite third soft ray of dorsal; pectoral pointed ; soft por- 
tions of dorsal and anal rounded; caudal slightly emarginate ; ven- 
tral pointed, first soft ray prolonged. 
Dorsal spines rather strong: first 2; inch; second ,4,; third 53,; 
fourth very slightly longer; thence they decrease to the last, which 
is 45 inch. Ventral spine weak, 8; inch long. Anal, second spine 
much the longest and strongest ; first >, inch ; second ,5, ; third .2,. 
Scales. Longest diameter from above downwards; above the 
lateral line they run in an ascending backward series of rows to the 
base of the dorsal until the end of that fin, when they pass parallel 
with back. Below the lateral line the first four rows run horizon- 
tally, terminating in the lateral line; the next five or six pass direct 
towards the caudal. Consequently the row commencing at the hu- 
merus is the superior one at the tail. 
Lateral line passes parallel with the back in its upper third. 
Colours. Back olive, shot with yellow. Abdomen yellow, with 
several horizontal brilliant golden lines; these lines are divided by a 
darker one running along the centre of each row of scales, so that 
each golden one is on parts of two. A large, very black mark exists 
on the lateral line, commencing at the twenty-second, and continued 
until the thirty-first scale ; it extends below the lateral line for three 
rows, and above it for one and a half. Dorsal and pectoral olive ; 
caudal and anal olive-yellow; ventrals golden. Iris golden. 
Rare in Cochin. The foregoing was the only one obtained; a 
second was frequently searched for, but invariably without success. 
MEsoprION RANGUS, Curvy. & Val. 
B.vii, D.f- P.16. V. >. A.g. C.16.2. 1eb46. Ltr. 2. 
Length of specimens from 7 to 9 inches. 
Very common ; grow to a large size; are excellent eating. 
