1865.] MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES OF COCHIN. 291 
Jaws equal in length ; gape of mouth wide, its transverse width 
being equal to half the length of the head. Summit of head de- 
pressed ; both it, the opercula, and the shoulder-bone furrowed ; 
occipital process narrow, twice as long as wide ; basal bone consider- 
ably produced to meet occipital process, and extended in front on 
either side of dorsal spine. A flat lance-shaped fonticulus in the 
central line of the head, between the orbits, pointing downwards and 
forwards, reaching in front nearly to intermaxillaries, and superiorly 
only extended to a short distance behind the orbits. Nasal cirri 
equal half the length of the head, superior maxillary ones slightly 
longer ; the external of the inferior labial ones reach as far as the 
base of the pectoral, whilst the internal ones are one-quarter shorter. 
Teeth very fine, “en velours”’ in both maxillaries and lower jaw ; 
whilst on the vomer and palate they are considerably longer, stronger, 
and arranged in a crescentic band. 
Fins. The first dorsal arises opposite about the middle of the pec- 
toral; and the ventral just beyond the termination of the pectoral, 
whilst it just reaches as far as the commencement of anal. Adipose 
dorsal commences about the middle of the anal. 
Dorsal spine strongly serrated ; about ten teeth posteriorly in its 
upper two-thirds, and three serrations in the front of its summit an- 
teriorly, whilst its extremity ends in a soft filament. The rays are 
longer than the spine. Pectoral situated in lower quarter of the 
body ; its spine stronger than that of the dorsal, slightly roughened, 
serrated anteriorly, and strongly serrated (sixteen to eighteen teetli) 
posteriorly. When laid flat, this spine is protected by an overhang- 
ing bony arch, formed by the process of the shoulder-bone. Second 
dorsal soft and rounded. Anal rather rounded posteriorly. Caudal 
deeply lunated ; outer rays the longest. 
Lateral line passes from summit of operculum direct to the centre 
of caudal. 
Colours. Back greenish ; sides golden yellow ; alarge round black — 
finger-mark situated just behind the operculum, and surrounded by 
a light-yellow margin. The first and adipose dorsals are yellowish, 
tinged with dusky. Caudal has a deep black base and a blackish 
margin; its ground-colour reddish orange, slightly stained with 
black at its extremity. Anal of a deep orange-red, slightly mar- 
gined with black. Eyes orange. 
Exceedingly common in the Kurriavanoor River, where they ap- 
pear to prefer the deepest pools; four or five are frequently taken 
out at one haul of a cast-net. They are also occasionally cuptured 
during the monsoons, especially in the backwater at Kurriapudnam 
and the river at Cochin. Said by the fishermen to rarely exceed 
16 inches in length. Esteemed for eating ; but the wounds inflicted 
by their pectoral spines are dreaded. 
Artrus Gacora (Buch. Ham.). 
By. D.>. Piz. V.6. Av18:3G.15. 
et fe 
Length of specimen 7,8, inches. 
Not uncommon ; eaten by the lower classes. 
