THE GAME FISHES OF THE PERSIAN GULF. 743 



Teetlh — 4 conical teeth in extremity of lower jaw and also canines in the 

 upper jaw ; on each side of the lower jasv there are two rows of viUiform 

 teeth, spreading into several rows towards the extremity. In the upper jaw 

 there is one row of similar teeth spreading into two clusters on the palati- 

 nes ; there is also a cluster of villiform teeth on the vomer. There are no 

 teeth on the tongue which is exceedingly well developed. There are 

 villiform teeth on the upper and lower surfaces of the gullet which spread 

 to the edge of the gills. 



Gill plates, are characteristic; the edges curve back and form an acute 

 angle posteriorly. 



Eije. — Small for size of fish, iris yellowish. 



FiriR dorsal. — Double, i.e., one continuous fin but divided into 2 parts ; the 

 anterior portion consists of 1 short strong spine followed by 10 longer 

 spines which are stout, very sharp and connected by membrane. The 

 posterior portion is rayed. 



Caudal is rayed, long, broad and practically straight cut, though perhaps 

 slightly forked. 



^4m«/ situated immediately below posterior portion of dorsal fin, rayed 

 but with three sharp spines anteriorly ; the first of these spines is short and 

 stout, the second is longer and very stout, and the third is still longer but 

 less stout. 



Pectoral is situated immediately above pelvic and former is sHghtly tinged 

 with yellow ; both are rayed but the latter has one hard spine situated 

 exteriorly. 



Colour.— GQ-aer&X back-ground milky-white closely covered with chocolate 

 marks ; on back, dorsal, caudal and flanks these are basaltic in character, 

 merging into distinct chocolate spots along gill plates, throat, and sides of 

 belly, also pectoral, pelvic and anal fins ; actual belly is white. 

 Scales. — Small. 

 Lateral line is indistinct. 



Bemarks. — Day states that in Madras and Andaman specimens, the 

 markings on the fins are not always so distinct, whilst there is generally a 

 white upper half to the last third of the caudal fin. On specimens examin- 

 ed at .Task, however, the markings on the fins were quite distinct ; the white 

 xipper half to last third of caudal is absent : the pectoral is well-marked and 

 has a reddish margin ; the pelvic is distinctly whitish bluish in hue and well 

 marked. 



From information collected locally the maximum weight of this fish would 

 seem to be about 30 lbs., so that he is a smaller species than the Hamiir : 

 his flesh though somewhat soft is quite palatable. As regards the habits of 

 the Leddum, he possesses the same generic failing as the Hamiir, in that he 

 bolts for the nearest hole in the rocks when hooked. The largest specimen 

 that was creeled by the writer w^eighed 11 1 lbs. It had followed the usual 

 custom and anchored itself hard and fast, and instructions had actually 

 been given to the boatman to break the line ; however the line held and the 

 Leddum was successfully uncorked. 



Let us now investigate another genus of the perch family, namely, 

 Lufja7ius. Day divides this genus into 28 individual species of which 1 

 species can perhaps lay claim to be styled a surface-feeder. This fish is 

 known locally as 



SuKKHOO. Lutjamts arrjentimacidatus. 



The accompanying photograph gives a good idea of the conformation of 

 this species ; the actual weight of the specimen figured being 8^ lbs. It 

 may be remarked that some species of genus Lutjanus are so similar that a 

 detailed account of the Surkhoo will not be oiit of place. 

 16 



