TBICHIURIDJE. 135 



2 of that of the head at the orbit. Lower jaw considerably the 

 longer. Dorsal profile, between end of snout and eye, rather 

 concave. Height of head equals f of its length. Teeth upwards of 

 10 to 12, sharp and compressed in either side of upper jaw, usually 

 increasing in size posteriorly, whilst anteriorly in the premaxillaries 

 are two pairs of large curved and barbed canines, there are two 

 similar but smaller teeth above the symphysis of the lower jaw 

 (and in advance of the end of the snout when the mouth is closed), 

 most distinct in the adult, and 8 lateral ones also of less size than 

 those in the upper jaw, some of the latter are occasionally barbed. 

 Teeth also in the palatines. Fins the first few dorsal rays are 

 of less height than those near the middle of the fin, which about 

 equal height of body. Pectoral nearly or quite as long as the 

 height of the head. Behind the anus the anal fin is seen in the 

 form of short spines, often entirely concealed or else blunted at 

 their extremities ; in one specimen I count 74, in another 80. 

 Lateral line gradually descends until above the commencement of 

 the anal fin, where it is in the lower third of the body. Colour 

 greyish along the back, becoming silvery on the sides and beneath ; 

 a dark mark along edge of preorbital. Fins pale yellow, upper 

 half of dorsal rendered dark by numerous fine black dots. 



Hob. East coast of Africa, seas and estuaries of India, and the 

 Malay Archipelago to China ; attaining at least 3 feet in length. 

 This fish is extremely voracious, devouring its own species, as well 

 as other kinds of iish and Crustacea. It is much more common 

 thau T. savala. 



891. (3.) Trichiurus savala. (Fig. 53.) 



Trichiurus savala, Cuv. # Vol. II. N. Pom. viii, p. 251, pi. 224 ; 

 Day, Fish. India, pp. 201, pi. xlvii, fig'. 4, Suppl. p. 788 (see synon.). 

 Toki vdkati, Marathi ; Nya thdrooey, Arracan ; Chooree muchee, Chitta- 

 gong ; Nya takoon kyd, Burmese. 



D. 112-120. P. 11. 



Length of head 74, height of body 16 in the total length. Eye 

 diameter 6| to 7 in length of head, 2| to 2| in length of snout, 

 and 1 apart ; height of eye about 3 of that of the head at the 

 orbit, height of head 2| to 2| in its length. The lower jaw con- 

 siderably prolonged beyond the upper. Interorbital space nearly 

 flat ; dorsal profile between upper surface of eyes and end of snout 



Fig. 53. Trichiurus savala. 



slightly concave. Distance from eye to upper jaw nearly equals 

 diameter of orbit. Teeth about 8, sharp and compressed, laterally 



