36 
THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 
Second dorsal rounded. Anal longest in front. Caudal slightly produced in the centre, and 
somewhat emarginate above and below. 
Scales—Moderate in size, some over base of caudal and anal rays. 
Lateral line—First ascends backwards to opposite eighth dorsal spine, from thence it curves 
downwards. 
Colours—Back and head greyish green, sides and abdomen silvery shot with pink. Fin 
membranes diaphanous, finely dotted with black, more especially in their marginal halves. The 
rays pale yellow. Iris golden, with some fine black points. 
Not common. Eaten but not esteemed. Grows to six inches in length. 
Habitat—Seas of India, Malaysia and China. 
Genus DREPANE, Cuv. and Val. 
Harpochirus, Cantor. 
Branchiostegals, six: pseudobranchi®. Body much compressed and elevated. Dorsal with eight or 
nine spines receivable into a groove at its base, with a concealed spine anteriorly, and directed forwards. In- 
terspinous membrane deeply notched. Anal with three spines. Pectoral elongated, falciform. Preopercle 
spineless. No teeth on palate. Scales of moderate size. Air bladder prolonged into two horns pos¬ 
teriorly. Pyloric appendages few. 
Drepane punctata. 
Ch^etodon punctatus, Linn. Gmel. p. 1243. 
Latte-Terla, A. & B. Bussell , pi. 79, 80, 81. 
Drepane punctata, Cuv. & Val. vii. p. 132. pi. 179; Gunther , Catal. ii. p. 62. 
Drepane longimana, Cuv. & Val. vii. p. 133. 
Harpochirus punctatus, Cantor , Catal. p. 162. 
Harpochirus longimanus, Cantor , Catal. p. 163. 
PlINDTHEE, Mai. 
B. vi. D. gflfy. P.17. Y. l. A. XY 3 T 8- C. 15. L. 1. 50. L. tr. £$. Coecal pylor. 2-3. 
Length of head of pectoral rather more than -ij, of base of dorsal of base of anal ^ of total 
length. Height of head B of body of hard dorsal of soft dorsal i, of ventral ^, of anal of 
total length. 
Eyes—Close to profile, diameter § length of head, § of a diameter apart, 1 from end of snout. 
The profile rises abruptly from snout to commencement of dorsal fin, whilst that of the 
abdomen is nearly straight. The maxilla extends backwards to opposite the anterior margin of 
the orbit, mouth small. Intermaxillaries protrusible. Preorbital very broad, entire. Preopercle 
long and narrow, its horizontal limb is denticulated, and only one-third the length of the vertical 
one which is entire. Sub- and interopercles entire. 
Teeth—Yilliform in jaws, none on palate. 
Fins—Dorsal spines strong, compressed, pointed, their base equals one-third of that of the 
entire fin, having a groove into which they can be partially received : the third spine the longest: 
interspinous membrane deeply notched : the rays longer than the spines. Pectoral falciform, 
