42 
THE FISHES OF MALABAE. 
The second dorsal with from nine to twelve, the anal with three spines. No pectoral appendages. Pre¬ 
orbital and preopercle armed. Villiforin teeth on jaws, vomer, and usually on the palatines. No cleft 
behind the fourth gill. 
PEOSOPODASYS DEAChENA. 
Apistus deaclena, Cuv. & Val. iv. p. 403. 
Peosopodasys deacyENA, Gunther , Catal. ii. p. 140. 
B. vii. D. 3 | f. P. 13. V. i. A. f. C. 12. 
Length, of head more than 5 , of pectoral above J, of caudal of base of dorsals \, of base of 
anal ^ of total length. Height of head of body V of first dorsal of second dorsal V of ventral 
of anal -}■ of total length. 
Eyes.—Diameter slightly above j,- the length of head, rather above ^ a diameter from end of 
snout, § of a diameter apart. 
The maxilla extends to beneath the anterior third of orbit. Lower jaw longest, with a 
tubercle at its symphysis. Intermaxillaries slightly protrusible, and notched in their centre. Pre¬ 
orbital with a strong spine, directed backwards, three quarters of the diameter of the orbit in 
length. Preopercle with a long spine the length of the orbit, directed backwards, and four dull 
points formed by an equal number of concave emarginations on its angle, and one on its inferior 
limb. Opercle ending in two spines. A concave channel along the summit of the head, between 
the eyes. 
Teeth—Villiform in jaws, vomer, and palate. 
Fins—Dorsal spines sharp but slender, the first arises over the centre of the orbit, the inter- 
spinous membrane is deeply notched, the second spine the longest, but all three are longer than 
the spines of the second dorsal, the membrane of which is deeply notched, and the rays are 
branched. Pectoral reaches to fourth dorsal ray. Ventral spine strong, slightly longer than second 
dorsal spine, rays branched. Third anal spine longest, rays branched. Central caudal rays slightly 
the longest. 
Lateral line—In upper fourth of body. 
Colours—Greyish brown along the back, and pinkish along the chest and abdomen. The 
whole of the body, dorsal, pectoral, ventral, and anal fins more or less dotted with brown. The 
caudal immaculate. A large black blotch between the third and sixth spines of the second dorsal. 
Grows to three inches in length. 
Habitat—Seas and estuaries of Malabar. 
Genus MINOUS, Cuv. and Val. 
Coeythobatus, Cantor, 
Branchiostegals, six to seven: pseudobranchise. Head and body compressed, scaleless. Several bones 
of head, especially preorbital, armed. One dorsal with from nine to eleven spines. Anal with from one to 
three spines. Pectoral rather large, with one appendage. Villiform teeth on jaws and vomer, none on 
palate. Air bladder present. Pyloric appendages few. 
