THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 
123 
continue the same. Soft dorsal rather longer than the unbranched portion: pectoral rounded. 
Ventral pointed, with two elongated rays, the outer one being a third shorter than the inner one, 
the most elongated one reaches to the anterior extremity of the pectoral fin. Anal parallel to 
the back. Caudal square. 
Body naked, covered with mucous secretions. 
Lateral line—Straight, and in upper third of the body. 
Colours—Of a light brownish tint, with twelve vertical markings along the base of the dorsal 
fin, passing downwards towards the abdomen in the form of light cloudy bands, which disappear 
below the lateral line : on these bands, where they meet the lateral line, there is generally a 
spot, and an intermediate one between that and the upper one. The head of a light yellowish 
brown colour, with a dark streak passing down the snout, and another from the side of the eye 
forwards, whilst other well-defined bands radiate about the throat, and the base of the pectoral fin. 
A beautiful fine line of a lustrous metallic green passes directly downwards behind the eye. Fins 
colourless, excepting the first thirteen rays of the dorsal, which are tipped with bright yellow. 
Grows to about three inches in length, and is found in Malabar during the monsoon. 
Habitat—Red Sea, Seas of India, Malaysia, the Philippine Islands, and through the Indian 
Archipelago to Polynesia. 
Fain. TEUTHIDIDiE. Gunther. 
Teuthyes, pt., Cuvier. 
Genus TEUTHIS, Linn. 
Siganus, Forskal. 
Centeogaster, Houttuyn. 
Amphacanthus, BL Schn. 
Branchiostegals, five: pseudobranchise. Body oblong and compressed. Eyes lateral. Mouth slightly 
cleft and little protractile. One dorsal, with a horizontal spine in front of it, and the spinous portion 
more developed than the soft. Ventral fins with three soft rays in each, and an external and internal spine. 
Teeth small, trenchant, and in a single row on the jaws, none on the vomer or palatine bones. Scales 
very small. Lateral line continuous. Air bladder large, forked both anteriorly and posteriorly. Pyloric 
appendages few. 
Teuthis veemiculata. 
Amphacanthus vermiculatus, Cuv. & Veil. x. p. 126. 
Teuthis vermiculatus, Gunther , Catal. iii. p. 317. 
Kuteeaii, Mai. 
B.v. D.Jfo. P.16. V.f. A. ¥ .V C. 17. 
Length of head of pectoral of caudal 1, of base of dorsal -|, of base of anal § of total 
length. Height of head of body } z , of hard dorsal -J-, of soft dorsal i, of ventral ( 1, of anal spines 
|, of anal rays 1 of total length. 
