THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 
83 
Scales—Small, covering the body and chest, and a few exist on the upper part of the opercle, 
also a row along the bases of the soft dorsal and anal. 
Lateral line—Rather strongly curved anteriorly, where the height it rises to is equal to more 
than one-third of its length, this curved portion ceases opposite about the fifth ray of the second 
dorsal, where it becomes straight and keeled, but the alteration to the commencement of the plates 
is so gradual that it is difficult to decide exactly where they begin ; they become gradually 
broader, the widest being one-eighth the height of the body; the ridge is elevated, and especially 
sharp near the tail. 
Colours—Generally silvery gold, with bluish green on the back and a large round black spot 
at the upper and posterior surface of the opercle. Fins yellow, except the first dorsal which has a 
dark tinge, as has also the upper lobe of the caudal. Iris silvery, the adipose lid to eye of a pale 
amber. 
Grows to ten inches in length ; very common in Malabar, and is good eating. 
Habitat—Seas of India and Malaysia, also from the Seychelles to New Guinea. 
* CARANX KALLA. 
Caranx kalla, Guv. & Val. ix. p. 49. 
Caranx calla, Gunther , Catal. ii. p. 433. 
B.vii. D. 8 | 23 _W V.l A. 2 | 1 ^. 20 ' L. 1.42-44. 
Length of head ^ of total length. Height of head of body f of total length. It is three 
times as thick as high, and the abdominal profile is more convex than that of the back. 
The lower jaw extends very slightly beyond the upper, and the maxilla reaches to beyond the 
anterior margin of the orbit. 
Teeth—In the jaws are disposed in a single row: there are teeth on the vomer, the palatine 
bones, and on the tongue. 
Fins—The last ray of the dorsal, and also of the anal, is slightly longer than the rest, from 
which it is rather detached. 
Scales—Small and extending over the chest. 
Lateral line—Curved to opposite the commencement of the second dorsal, becoming straight 
under the third or fifth ray; the plates are well developed and occupy the whole of its horizontal 
portion. 
Colours—Bluish green above, shot with silver, sides and abdomen silvery, with nacreous 
reflections. The tail and the caudal fin brilliant yellow, the upper lobe being tinged with green : 
the other fins white, excepting the dorsal which has some black upon it. Dr. Gunther states that 
the opercular spot is distinct. 
Grows to two feet in length. 
Habitat—Red Sea, Seas of India and China. 
Caranx melanostethos. Plate VI. 
Caranx melanostethos, Day , Proc. Zool. Soc. 1865, p. 23. 
B. vii. D. 8 | Jg. P. 19. V. A. 2 | T V C. 19. L. 1. 28. 
Length of head §, of pectoral it, of base of first dorsal T 2 T , of base of second dorsal -j, of 
m 2 
