THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 
03 
edges of tlie intermaxillaries, making them appear rough like a file. The lower jaw on its upper 
and external margins is similarly covered to beneath the posterior margin of the orbit. Teeth 
of the same description on vomer and palate. 
Fins—A short distance in front and below the level of the base of the pectoral fin arise four 
articulated filaments, the two posterior of which are usually longest, and equal the length of the 
head : in one specimen there were three free rays on the left side, and four on the right. The first 
dorsal arises over the first third of the pectoral, the ventral opposite its posterior third. The 
second dorsal commences a little nearer the base of the caudal than it does to the orbit, the anal 
arises opposite to it. The distance between the root of the ventral and the commencement of the 
anal, equals the extent from the anterior margin of the orbit to the end of the opercle. First 
dorsal triangular, its spines weak, membrane slightly emarginate : first spine very short, the second 
the longest, from whence they rapidly decrease. Second dorsal highest in front, first ray the 
longest, its upper margin slightly concave, its general form trapezoid. Pectoral slightly pointed, 
an elongated scale at its base. Yentral small and triangular with a badly developed but elongated 
scale at its base. Anal rather larger than second dorsal, but of the same shape. Caudal lobed in 
its posterior two-thirds, the upper one slightly the longest. 
Scales—Moderate, ctenoid, disposed the same as in the last species. 
Lateral line—Consists of single well marked tubes, its direction is nearly straight, with a 
very slight downward curve from opposite the first dorsal, and a moderate rising opposite the end 
of second dorsal, at the base of the caudal it divides into two branches which slightly diverge, and 
again subdivide each into two more. 
Colours—Head and back silvery green, becoming silvery white on the sides and abdomen. 
Dorsal and caudal greyish with minute black points, and darkest—nearly black—at their margins. 
Pectoral, ventral, and anal fins, pale orange, filaments white. A dark mark on upper portion of 
opercle. Cheeks and suborbital region golden. Iris silvery with a golden green tinge on its 
upper surface. 
Ho air bladder. Pyloric appendages very numerous. 
Grows to six feet in length in the Gangetic estuaries, but rarely above three feet in Malabar. 
Is excellent eating. It appears to be very numerous in Cochin, especially in the months of 
December and January, when numbers are taken by trolling. Of course, having no air bladder it 
is useless for the manufacture of isinglass. 
Habitat—Seas of India, Malaysia, and China. 
Fam. SPHYR^NIDiE. 
Genus SPHYEiENA, Artedi. 
Branehiostegals, seven: pseudobranchise. Body elongated, subcylindrical. Eyes lateral, of moderate 
size: cleft of mouth wide, armed with large strong trenchant teeth in both jaws and on the palatine 
bones. Preopercle entire. Opercle without spines. Two dorsal fins, remote, similar to and opposite 
second dorsal. Yentrals abdominal. Scales small, cycloid: lateral line continuous. Air bladder large, 
sometimes bifurcated anteriorly. Pyloric appendages many. 
