THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 
35 
dorsal yellowish with slight brown markings between the rays, the soft portion of the anal being 
similarly coloured. Pectorals and ventrals yellowish. Eyes golden. 
The colours depend on the season of the year in which captured, and whether taken in 
fresh or salt water. In the monsoon time the back becomes greenish, and the purple colour is 
deeper. 
Common, grows to one foot in length. Owing to its being reputed to be a very foul feeder, 
only the lowest classes will eat it. Bennett states that in Ceylon it is caught on hooks baited 
with seaweed “ Pendah,” of which it is particularly fond. 
Habitat—East Indian and Chinese seas, entering the mouths of rivers and backwaters. 
Genus EPHIPPUS, Cuvier. 
Ilarciies, Cantor. 
Branchiostegals, six : pseudobranchise. Body much compressed and elevated. Dorsal with eight or 
nine spines, receivable into a groove at its base, the third and sometimes more, are elongated and flexible; 
interspinous membrane deeply notched. Three anal spines. Pectoral short. Snout short, upper profile 
parabolic. Preopercle without a spine. No teeth on palate. Scales moderate or small. Air bladder 
bifurcated in front, with two horns posteriorly. 
\ 
Eppiippus orbis. 
Chhstodon orbis, Bloch , t. 202, f. 2. 
Ephippus orbis, Cuv. & Val. vii. p. 127 ; Gunther , Catal. ii. p. 62. 
Ilarches orbis, Cantor , Catal. p. 160. 
B. vi. D. 8 | T V P. 19. V. l. A. j^. C. 19. L. r. 35. L. tr. 
Length of head of pectoral ^, of base of dorsals nearly \, of base of anal of caudal £ of 
total length. Height of head f, of body nearly , of first dorsal of second dorsal of ventral 
^, of anal ^ of total length. 
Eyes—Diameter 1, length of head, 1 diameter from end of snout, nearly 1 diameter apart. 
The upper profile is much elevated, rising abruptly from the snout to the first dorsal fin : the 
abdominal contour is much less convex. The maxilla extends to opposite anterior margin of orbit. 
Preopercle narrow, finely denticulated on its vertical limb and at its angle. Sub- and interopercles 
entire. Opercle half as wide as long', ending in two obtuse points, connected by a shallow emar- 
gination. 
Teeth— Villiform in jaws, none on palate. 
Fins—Dorsal spines moderately strong at their bases; interspinous membrane of first fin deeply 
emarginated, but not that between spine of second fin and soft rays. The spines of the first dorsal 
can be received into a groove at their base, which is slightly more than two-thirds of the extent 
of that of the second dorsal. The third, fourth and fifth spines are elongated and filiform at their 
extremities, especially the third spine. The anterior rays of the second dorsal are the longest. 
Ventral spine weak but rather long, first ray elongated. Anal opposite soft dorsal, second spine 
the longest and strongest, equal to the seventh dorsal in length, the spines can be received into 
a gi’oove at their base anterior rays the longest. Pectoral short rounded. Ventral pointed. 
p 2 
