416 ACANTHOPTERTGII. 



longest ray : the anal spines occupy seven-tenths of the length of the base of the fin, and both spines and rays 

 are the same as in the dorsal. Caudal slightly emarginate. Scales — very slightly ctenoid, extended on to the 

 caudal, and along the base of the dorsal and anal fins. Lateral-line — ^in upper fourth of body, extending 

 from sixteen to eighteen scales, and ceasing opposite the twelfth or fourteenth dorsal spine, or else continued for 

 about six scales further in the form of a small round hole in each scale. Golov/rs — of a light green, with eight 

 vertical bands, the first passes over the occiput, the last across the base of the caudal, and the other six are 

 intermediate. • Most of the scales above the lateral-line have a central white pearly spot, whilst there are some 

 irregular black spots over the abdomen. The dorsal, caudal, ventral and anal are of a dark leaden colour, the 

 pectoral yellowish, with a jet black base. Specimens from the salt water are of a deep purple colour, the bands 

 almost black, and the white spots consequently more distinct. During the monsoon time the colours of this 

 fish are most beautiful, the eight vertical bands are more distinctly marked, the abdomen is nearly white, the 

 back of a deep green, and the round white spot gleams on every scale bke a small pearl. Very young fish have 

 a large black ocellus, surrounded by a white margin, extending from the fourth to the tenth soft rays of the 

 dorsal fin. 



Very common in the pieces of fresh water along the coasts of Malabar and Coromandel as high as 

 Orissa. It is excellent eating, especially when of a large size, and grows to upwards of a foot in length. It takes 

 a bait freely, but is not so easily captured in a net, as it buries itself in the mud or dives beneath the net. 



This fish termed " Etroplus — ," by Jerdon (M. J. L. and Sc. 1851, p. 133) is this species, the figure is 

 amongst Sir W. Elliot's coUeotion of drawings, marked " KaUu sella kas," and also Etroplus maculat'us Miowirig 

 Jerdon's mistake in his F. W. Pishes, where he terms E. Sv/ratensis, E. macvlaius. 



Habitat. — Fresh and brackish waters along the coasts of Ceylon and India, as far as Orissa. Bloch 

 named his fish received from ;the missionary John, Suratensis, on the supposition that it came from Surat. It 

 does not appear however to be found in that locality, and more probably John obtained it at his station 

 of Tranquebar where it is common. I have taken it inland in the Wynaad. The specimen figured is 7-5 

 inches in length. 



