THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 
77 
B.vi. D. ¥ J ¥7 . P. 23-27. V.A. rf-zr 0.17. 
Length of head 1, of pectoral t 3 q, of caudal 1-, of base of dorsal upwards of of base of 
anal -t of total length. Height of head ¥ , of body f, of dorsal ¥ , of anal \ of total length. 
Eyes—Diameter \ of length of head, § of a diameter from end of snout, 1§ diameters apart. 
Mouth in central line: the maxilla extends to beneath the anterior third of the orbit. 
Opercles striated from above downwards and backwards, the preopercle downwards and forwards. 
Nostrils approximating, overhanging the snout, and placed above the level and in front of the orbit. 
Teeth—A single row of excessively minute and closely set teeth in each jaw. 
Fins—Dorsal commences over the pectoral, and anal opposite the posterior third of the 
pectoral. The dorsal rays gradually increase, the tenth being the longest, from whence the fin 
descends, and has a concave upper margin : four spines are hidden in the flesh before the anal and 
dorsal fins. The anal is the same shape as the dorsal. The caudal lobed, with the lobes of equal 
size : the pectoral rather pointed. 
Scales—Small and very deciduous, extending over the vertical fins and head. 
Lateral line—In upper fifth of body, at first it irregularly ascends, and curves slightly upwards, 
but opposite the end of dorsal it passes straight to the centre of the caudal fin. 
Colours—Upper surface of head and body as far as the lateral line of a deep neutral tint, the 
rest of the body with a mixture of brownish grey, having metallic reflections, lighter and silvery 
towards the abdomen. It is dotted all over with brown, the larger spots having a silvery point in 
their centres. Fins silvery grey, marginal half blackish. Cavity of the mouth and tongue pale 
bluish grey with brown dots, silvery in thq centre. Iris reddish silver or copper coloured, minutely 
dotted with brown. 
This species of Pomfret is that most esteemed for eating : in Malabar it is by no means rare 
during the S.W. monsoon (from June till September). It should be cooked when quite fresh. 
Habitat—-Seas of India, Malaysia, and China. 
Steomateus argenteus. 
Stromateus argenteus, Bloch , xii. p. 92, t. 421; Bussell , pp. 31, 35 ; Cuv. & Val. ix. 
p. 393 ; Cantor , Catal. p. 142 ; Gunther , Catal. ii. p. 400. 
Stromateus secueifer, Cuv. & Val. ix. p. 394, pi. 273 (young). 
Stromateus candidus, Cuv. & Val. ix. p. 391. 
Tella sandawa, Russell , pi. 42. 
Silver Pomfret. 
B. vii. D. 5-9 | 3 J 43 . P. 25-27. A. 6 | 3 ^. C. 16. 
Length of head f, of pectoral of caudal ^ of total length. Height of body of dorsal l, of 
anal ^ of the total length. 
Eyes—Diameter f of length of head, 1 diameter from end of snout, 1 diameter apart. 
Lower jaw the longest, the maxilla extends to beneath the anterior third of orbit. Snout 
projecting over the mouth. 
Teeth—In a close single row in either jaw, largest in the inferior. 
Fins—The second dorsal commences slightly posterior to the origin of the pectoral, and opposite 
the anal. The spines of the first dorsal in the adult are truncated superiorly, as are also those of 
the anal. The anterior extremities of the dorsal and anal are elevated and falcated, whilst the 
