62 
THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 
closely dotted with, minute black points: the inferior half of opercle also minutely dotted with 
black. Second dorsal dotted with black, and darkest anteriorly. Caudal darkest posteriorly 
especially at the points of its lobes. Anal finely dotted in the same way as the second dorsal. 
Pectoral, its appendages, and ventral nearly white. 
Air bladder present, “ its form is oval and the membrane is silvery and thick. It occupies the 
whole length of the abdomen, terminating posteriorly in a very sharp point, which penetrates the 
muscles of the tail over the first interspinal of the anal. It adheres to the abdominal vertebrae 
from the third to the seventh. From either side towards the ventral surface proceed from twenty- 
eight to thirty-five appendages, which with the exception of the three last have two roots, but 
terminate in a single sharp point. Above each of these, towards the dorsal surface, appear one 
or two others. All the appendages penetrate the thick of the muscles, and are slightly directed 
towards the back of the fish.” Cuv. <$f Vat. in. p. 285. 
Grows to three feet in length, but rarely exceeds 20 lbs. in weight. As an article of diet it is 
inferior to the P. tetradactylus, both of which are termed Rowball at Vizagapatam. Its great 
value consists in the isinglass which is obtained from its air bladder, a large fish yielding about 
two ounces of good quality. It is probable that much of the isinglass exported from Malabar 
under the designation of “fish maws” is produced from this species. 
Habitat—Seas of India, Malaysia, and extending to the coasts of Australia. 
POLYNEMUS TETRADACTYLUS. 
Polynemus tetradactylus, Shaw , v. p. 155; Cuv. & Veil. iii. p. 375. vii. p. 514; 
McClelland , J. A. 8. viii. 1839, p. 206 ; Cantor , Catal. p. 25 ; Gunther , Catal. 
ii. p. 329. 
Maja-jellee, Bussell , pi. 183. 
Polynemus teria, Ham. Buch. pp. 224, 381; Gray , Illust. I. Z., i. pi. 92, f. 2. 
Polynemus salliah, et quadrifilis, Cantor , Catal. J. A. S., v. p. 166. 
B. vii. D. 8 | rgljs- P. Id, iv. V. 1. A. C. 17. L. 1. 75-85. L. tr. if. 
D. 8-9 | x4.Vy* P* 17, iv. V. 3. A. -j-fijg-. C. 17. according to Cantor. 
Length of head J, of pectoral ^, of caudal of base of first dorsal 3*3, of base of second 
dorsal of base of anal f of total length. Height of head of body , of first dorsal 1, of 
second dorsal I, of ventral j 0 -, of anal i of total length. 
Eyes—Oval, with adipose lids, covering nearly half their width. Horizontal diameter f, 
vertical diameter py 0 f length of head, J transverse diameter from end of snout, 1 transverse 
diameter apart. 
Body long, rather compressed and tapering towards both extremities. 
Mouth oblique, deeply cleft, and not protrusible, the maxilla extends the length of transverse 
diameter of the orbit behind its posterior margin. Lower jaw shortest, snout diaphanous, over¬ 
hanging, and advanced before the jaws : nostrils at its outer margin: under surface of lower 
jaw nearly flat. Preopercle, its ascending limb obliquely convex, slightly produced just above the 
angle, the whole being finely and evenly serrated except on the angle where the serratures are 
finer and less distinct, its lower limb short and entire. Interorbital space nearly flat. 
Teeth—Exceedingly numerous and very fine, covering the whole of the exposed and inferior 
