1865.] MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN. 7 
There is one very distinctive portion of its coloration that appears 
hardly to vary, whether examined in the smallest specimens or those 
at least up to 20 lbs. weight: it is that of the pectoral, ventral, anal, 
and caudal fins, which are of a bright gamboge, with black spots or 
blotches, sometimes coalescing and forming arched bands. Cantor 
mentions that in the adult S. horridus the colours of the fins become 
greenish olive; but in a specimen 4 feet 3 inches long, which he 
describes, they were the same as given above. 
The very young fish, of which there are several in the Govern- 
ment Museum at Madras, are of a fine citron or sulphur ground- 
colour, with irregular black bands or markings, which become more 
distinct as the size of the fish increases. 
In a beautiful specimen, 73 inches in length, captured in Cochin 
in 1863, the ground-colour of the body and fins is of a bright gam- 
boge, with five vertical blackish-blue bands,—the first passing from 
the orbit directly downwards over the preoperculum ; the second 
from the crown of the head downwards over the operculum, and 
slightly impinging on the przeoperculum, becomes lost in the first 
band anteriorly and the third posteriorly ; the third, commencing 
in the space between the third and tenth dorsal spines, passes down- 
wards and, narrowing, joins the second band in front, whilst below 
it is adatiued on to the abdomen; the fourth band extends from 
the fifth to the last soft ray of the dorsal, and passes downwards to 
the whole base of the anal; the fifth band covers most of the space 
between the caudal and the termination of the dorsal and anal fins. 
The fins are of the same bright yellow ground-colour as the body, 
with black spots or blotches forming confluent lines near their base ; 
whilst on the pectorals they are disposed in three or four arched un- 
dulating bands. Large black blotches exist on the jaws. Iris 
golden. 
In a fine specimen, over 13 inches in length, captured at Cochin 
jn November 1863, the same distribution of coloration is perceptible ; 
but its vividness has begun to fade, and marbling can be distinctly 
perceived over the whole of the yellow ground, whilst the dark tints 
of the bands have much lessened. It must also be remarked that, 
in this specimen, the comparative length of the dorsal spines to the 
rays has become the same as in the adult hitherto known as the S. 
horridus. 
In a specimen captured in Cochin in 1862, nearly 23 inches in 
length, the adult livery of the S. horridus is perceptible. Back 
brownish, gradually fading into grey over the abdomen, the whole 
being marbled with darkish grey lines. The spinous portion of the 
dorsal brownish yellow, with a dark base. The soft portion of pec- 
toral, ventral, anal, and caudal the same as in the younger specimens. 
Tris brown, with a golden rim. 
This fish, which is excellent eating, is never rare at Cochin, but is 
mostly captured in the monsoon months: one, in 1861, was of about 
20 lbs. weight. Cantor observes that it grows in the Straits toa 
gigantic size, and instances a specimen captured at Pinang, the sage 
of which exceeded 130 lbs. - 
