9 
THE FISHES OF MALABAE. 
Fam. PERCIDjE. 
Genus LATES, Cuvier and Valenciennes. 
Branchiostegals, seven: pseudobranchise present. Preorbital, and humeral bones strongly serrated, 
preopercle with strong spines at its angle, and denticulated along its inferior margin, opercle spinate. 
First dorsal with seven or eight, anal with three spines. Tongue smooth. Teeth villiform, on upper and 
lower jaws, vomer and palatine bones. 
LaTES CALCARIFER. 
Holocentrus calcarifer, Bloch , Auslandisclie Fisclie, t. 244. 
Lates nobilis, Cuv. & Val . ii. p. 96, pi. 13 ; Cantor , Catalogue of Malayan Fishes, p. 1. 
Lates calcarifer, Gunther , Catal. i. p. 68. 
Coius yacti, Hamilton Buchanan, Fishes of the Ganges, pp. 86, 369, pi. 16. f. 8. 
Pandoomenoo, Bussell ', Fishes of Coromandel, pi. 131. 
Begti, Beyigalhe. Nuddee meen, MalayaUm. 
B. vii. D. 7-8 | P. 17. Y. i. A. ¥ %. C. 17. L. 1. 52. L. tr. T 7 T . 
Length, of head about 3 , of pectoral L of caudal 4, of base of dorsal b, of base of anal h of 
total length. Height of head of body § of total length. 
Eyes—Diameter f length of head, f of a diameter apart, If from end of snout. 
Preorbital and preopercle finely serrated, the latter with its angle obtuse, having a large 
tooth directed backwards, and three smaller (but strong) denticulations along its inferior margin. 
Opercular spine weak. Suprascapular and coracoid bones toothed, about five on the former, from 
sis to ten on "the latter. 
Teeth—Villiform on upper and lower jaws, vomer, and palatine bones. 
Fins—Dorsal spines strong, the first half as high as the second, which is not quite a third as long 
as the next, which is the highest: from thence they rapidly decrease. Third anal spine more than 
double the length of second, which is twice that of the first. The first dorsal triangular, second 
dorsal and anal square. Pectoral small and rounded. Ventral slightly rounded, caudal fan-shaped. 
Colours—Generally grey with a dash of green along the back, and silvery on the abdomen : 
in the monsoon time with a tinge of purple, whilst young specimens are darker than adults. 
Very plentiful, grows to five feet in length. Is excellent eating, salts well, and from it some 
of the best “ Tamarind fish 5 ’ is made. Air bladder thin, a large fish not yielding above one ounce 
of isinglass. It is known as the “ Nam fish” in Malabar, and the “ Cock-up” in Calcutta. 
Habitat—Seas and estuaries of India and Malaysia. 
Genus SERRANUS, Cuv. and Vcd. 
Branckiostegals, seven. Preopercle more or less serrated, with its lower limb entire: opercle with 
two or three flat spines. Dorsal fin single, with from eight to twelve spines: anal with three. Teeth 
villiform in jaws, with more or less pointed ones and distinct canines in each intermaxillary, also on vomer 
and palatine bones. Tongue smooth. Scales small. 
Serranus SEXFASCIATUS. 
Serranus sexfasciatus, Cuv. & Val. ii. p. 360; Gunther , Catal. i. p. 108. 
