150 MR. F. DAY ON NEW INDIAN FISHES. [Feb. 13, 



Scales cover the body, and form a partial sheath to the dorsal and 

 anal fins, but there are none on the top of the head. They are 

 strongly ctenoid and in parallel rows. 



Lateral line in single tubes, following the curve of the back in the 

 upper fourth of the body. 



Colours. Bluish silveiy along the back and sides, and rosy along 

 the abdomeu. Fins yellowish ; dorsal i range ; spines black. The 

 interspinous membrane between the first three dorsal spines and 

 also between the sixth and last is deep black. 



A single specimen captured at Madras, June Gtli, 1867. 



Percid.e. 



Mesoprion chirtah, Cuv. & Val. 



B. vii. D. 11/14. P. 17. V. 1/5. A. 3/9. C. 17. L. 1. 55. 

 L. tr. 10/25. 



Length of specimens from 11^^,^ to 16 inches. 



Length of head f , of pectoral ^, of base of dorsal spines f , of base 

 of dorsal rays i, of base of anal |, of caudal | of the total length. 

 Height of head" :|, of dorsal spines ^, of dorsal rays i of ventral i, 

 of anal ^ of the total length. 



Eyes. Upper margin ^ of diameter from the profile ; diameter | 

 of length of head, 1 diameter apart, 1^ diameter from end of snout. 



Posterior extremity of maxilla extends to nearly beneath the an- 

 terior extremity of the orbit. Praeoperculum sHghtly emarginate, 

 smooth superiorly and serrated interiorly, whilst the posterior por- 

 tion of its vertical limb has some widely separated denticulatious. 



Teeth. An external row of conical teeth in the upper jaw, and 

 several rows of villiform ones posterior to it ; the same in the lower 

 jaw, except that the villiform ones are only in its central portion. 

 Villiform in vomer and palate. 



Dorsal spines weak, the fourth the longest. First anal spine a 

 little above one-third the length of the second, which is much the 

 strongest, but not quite so long as the third. Caudal broad and 

 slightly emarginate. 



Colours. Uniform bright rose-colour, with an orange tinge. All 

 the fins have a slightly dark stain at their margins. 



Hab. Common in Madras. 



I have been so fortunate as to obtain numerous specimens of this 

 fish, from the very young to the adult, and have no hesitation in as- 

 serting that the M. annularis, C. & V., is the young of this species, 

 and the M. malabaricus the semiadult. 



Before describing the specimens, it will be necessary to offer a few 

 remarks upon what has been written respecting these fish. Russell 

 was the original observer of the M. chirtah, which he figures in his 

 •Fishes of Vizagapatam ;' his specimen was 13 inches long. Dr. 

 Jerdon omits the M. chirtah from amongst the list of liis fishes of 

 liladras, but states that the M. annularis is one of the commonest 

 of the tribe there. Dr. Giinther rejects the M. chirtah, but remarks 

 that the M. malabaricus is peihaps a variety of tlie M. annularis. 



