PISCES APODES. STROMATEUS. 
33 
crescent-form; the pectoral are long and falcate; there are no ventral fins; the caudal forked, though not so 
deeply as in the white Pomfret. 
The colour universally dark, tending to black, except the throat and belly, which are some shades lighter. 
The skin, as also the membranes of the fins are remarkably thick. 
The length from the nose to the caudal fin, seven inches; the greatest breadth, four. 
REMARKS. 
The white and the black Pomfrets, are esteemed two of the most delicious fishes on the Coromandel coast; 
but they must be eat when fresh caught, as they are injured greatly by being kept only a few hours. The 
black, though a less firm fish, is by some preferred to the white. 
In the latter fortnight of March, and during part of April, Pomfrets were in most plenty at Vizagapatam. 
It was remarkable that they were never caught in abundance for more than two or three days successively; 
after which they, in a manner, disappeared for a like number of days, and again returned. 
The Pomfrets which I saw at Madras, agreed exactly with the descriptions given above; but there are other 
species on that part of the coast, of which notice shall be taken hereafter. 
The figure of one species of this genus has been given by Sir Hans Sloane in his history of Jamaica,* where 
it is known under the name Pampus, or Pampel, whence probably the name Pomfret among the English in 
the East Indies: sometimes pronounced Pomplet, or Pomflet. 
No. XLIV. 
Stromateus corpore sub-orbiculato, sqiiarnoso ; maxims obhisis sub-(equalthus . 
The Stromateus, with a body nearly orbicular, covered with small scales; the maxillae 
obtuse, and nearly of equal length. 
Called by the Natives Atoo Koia. 
B. D. 44. P. 24. V. 0. A. 40. G. 22. 
The body nearly orbicular, much compressed, scaly; the scales small, round, close, less tenacious than in the 
other species. 
The head round, compressed, short, the rostrum obtuse, like that of the white Pomfret, and the crown and part 
of the front squamous. The mouth small, capable of little extension; the jaws short, nearly of equal length, 
hardly extractile, the under one only moveable and obtuse; the teeth are unlike those in the other species : the 
upper jaw is rough to the finger like a file, the under is a bone distinctly pectinate. The tongue roundish, 
thick, smooth, bridled; the palate also smooth. The eyes small, round, not protuberant. Nostrils double, close to 
the nose, the posterior large, oval; the anterior smaller, round. 
The opercula can scarcely be called two-leaved; they are not so pointed as in the white Pomfret, and more 
confined, while the branchial aperture is so small that the membrane is completely hidden. 
The trunk. The back and belly arched, carinate; the sides compressed; the tail grows narrow where the 
dorsal and anal fins end, but again expands to receive its own fin. There are no spiculi on the back or belly. 
The lateral line conspicuous, supreme, carinate, arched; but towards the end straight, and terminates not 
exactly at the middle of the caudal fin. There is no second line. The anus much nearer the head than the tail. 
The fins. The dorsal and anal are placed more forward than in the white Pomfret; they are nearly alike in 
* Vol. II. Tab. 250, Fig. IV. 
