THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 
25 
Lateral line—First slightly descends, then ascends and follows the curve of the back. 
“ Air vessel very large, about one-third of the total length, silvery white, and of a lanceolate 
shape. It is excessively thin and so firmly adherent to the back, that but a small portion can 
be removed.'” (Cantor.) The quality of the isinglass made from it is good, but the quantity small. 
Colours—The young are more or less of a brassy brown colour, blotched with darker markings, 
and having the extremity of the caudal dirty white. The adult is of a slate colour, blotched with 
a darker tinge. Pectorals yellowish white. The other fins slate colour, darkest at their margins 
except the caudal, the extremity of which, in specimens up to thirteen inches, is of a dirty white. 
Iris bluish silvery. 
Very good eating, are dried in some places, and good isinglass is obtained from them in small 
quantities. They grow to two and a half feet in length. Small ones are common. 
Habitat—Seas of India, Malaysia, and China, also the Atlantic Coasts of America from New 
York to Surinam. 
Genus SCOLOPSIS, Cuvier. 
Branehiostegals five : pseudobranchias. Form of body oblong. Eyes large. Snout moderate, jaws 
equal, cleft of mouth horizontal. One dorsal with ten, anal with three spines: caudal more or less forked. 
Infraorbital arch with a spine directed backwards. Preopercle mostly denticulated. Opercle with an 
indistinct spine. Scales moderately ctenoid. Air bladder simple. Pyloric appendages few. 
SCOLOPSIS JAPONICUS. 
Anthias japonicus, Bloch , t. 325, f. 2. 
Kueite, Bussell , pi. 106. 
Scolopsis kate, Cuv. & Val. v. p. 329. 
Scolopsis Ruppelii, Cuv . & Val. v. p. 332. 
Scolopsis kurite, Cuv. & Val. v. p. 331. 
Scolopsis japonicus, Gunther , Catal. i. p. 354. 
B. vi. D. lo. p. 15 . v. i, a. f. C. 17. L. 1. 44. L. tr. T \. 
Length of head of pectoral of caudal of base of dorsal of base of anal ^ of total 
length. Height of head j, of body 1, of hard dorsal y, of soft dorsal of ventral ( 1, of anal A of 
total length. 
Eyes—Transversely oval, horizontal diameter vertical diameter 3. of length of head, \ a 
diameter from end of snout, and the same distance apart. 
Maxilla extends to beneath the anterior fourth of orbit. Infraorbital ring with two prominent 
spines, the posterior largest and directed backwards, the anterior elevated and directed forwards, 
the plate serrated below. Preopercle slightly emarginate, denticulated, with the strongest teeth at 
its angle; lower limb, horizontal, entire. Sub- and interopercles entire. Opercle with a blunt 
point. Shoulder bones entire. 
Teeth—In jaws in villiform bands. 
Fins—Dorsal spines moderately strong, the spinous portion upwards of half the length of the 
fin, interspinous membrane moderately notched. Fourth and fifth spines slightly the longest. 
E 
