30. 



GOMPHOSUS VIRIDIS. 



Order, Thoracic. 

 of j n j?> Nil Talapat-Girawah, 



Native Name, ^D d&i^-o&icfidzh 



OR 



Green Talapat-Palirot. 



G. viridis. Body dark green. Snout elongated. The pectoral fin 

 marked with a black streak ; the other fins of a paler green than the body. 

 Eyes rather dim ; iris golden. 



Branchiostegous rays 4. Dorsal 2\, eight spinous. Pectoral 14. Ventral 6. 

 Anal \2, one spinous. Caudal 14. 



The Nil Talapat Girawah of the Cingalese is very scarce on the 

 southern coast of Ceylon : it is found in rocky situations, but never 

 sought after by the fishermen as an article of food. 



This fish is remarkable for the loss of its beautiful green color after 

 exceeding the length of ten or twelve inches. It is considered by 

 the native Cingalese that the dorsal fin of this fish resembles the 

 young leaf of the Talapat tree, when spread. 



Figure — The size of the Specimen. 



