98 
THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 
black spots, as are also the bases and anterior portions of the anal and pectoral fins and tlie outer 
edge of the caudal. Iris golden and green towards the orbit. 
Grows to twenty inches in length, but is dry and insipid eating. 
Habitat—Seas of India, Malaysia, and as far as the coast of Australia. Atlantic coasts of 
tropical and temperate America, crossing over to the Western coast of Africa. 
Trachynotus Bailloni. 
Botla parah, Bussell , pi. 142. 
CLesiomorus Bailloni, Lacep. iii. p. 93, pi. 3, fig. 1. 
Trachinotus quadripunctatus, Cuv. & Val. viii. p. 434 ; Cantor , Catal. p. 122. 
Trachinotus Busselli, Cuv. & Val. viii. p. 436. 
Trachinotus Bailloni, Cuv. & Val. viii. p. 431; Gunther, Catal. ii. p. 484. 
Vella oodoo, and Parruvu, Mai. 
B.vii. D. 6 | 2 ^ 23 - P-17. V.i A. 2 | 22 _W- 0. 17. 
Length of head T 3 g, of pectoral of caudal f, of base of first dorsal of base of second 
dorsal of base of anal f of total length. Height of head of body f, of first dorsal 3 ^, of 
second dorsal of anal of ventral of total length. 
Eyes—Diameter rather more than ^ length of head; 1 diameter from end of snout, 11 dia¬ 
meters apart. 
Body ovoid, elevated, and strongly compressed, its width not exceeding one third of its height. 
Jaws of equal length, the maxilla extending backwards until it nearly reaches to beneath the 
centre of the orbit. Snout obtuse : nostrils between orbit and snout, but rather above the level of 
the former, the posterior nostril large and oval, the anterior round and small. Preopercle, vertical 
limb directed rather backwards, with the angle rounded and produced : inferior margin oblique. 
Opercle of moderate size. 
Teeth—Card-like in both jaws, and on vomer and palate. 
Fins—The first dorsal consists of six free spines, preceded by a recumbent one directed for- 
wards : these spines can be laid flat, and have also an irregular lateral movement. The first 
dorsal spine is situated over the posterior third of pectoral, the ventral arises under its centre. The 
second dorsal commences about midway between snout and base of caudal: the anal under the 
fourth ray of second dorsal: both are very much produced in front, whilst the last fifteen rays 
are parallel with the back and abdomen : a small portion only of the tail is uncovered by fin. 
Pectoral and ventral small: caudal with deeply produced lobes, the upper slightly the longest. 
Two free spines before the anal fin of moderate strength. 
Scales—Small, external portions oval, they are placed in sinuous lines, and below the level of 
the pectoral are much smaller than those above it. 
Lateral line—In simple tubes : it is slightly arched at first, but from opposite the last third of 
the pectoral proceeds straight to the centre of the caudal. 
Colours—Upper surface of head and back of a silvery yellowish green, becoming lighter 
on the sides, and silvery white on the abdomen, opercles, and cheeks. The first two or three rays 
of the dorsal and anal, and the external half of each lobe of the caudal, are black. On the lateral 
line there are four or five large black spots, more or less distant, the first one is opposite the end 
of the pectoral. Fins diaphanous. Iris silvery, and greenish towards the orbit. 
