THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 
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Eyes—Their upper margins close to the profile : diameter ^ length of head, lj- diameters from 
end of snout, rather more than 1 diameter apart. 
Body oval, with superior and inferior profile about equally convex. From the snout to the 
dorsal there is a considerable rise, the upper jaw being elevated like a parrot’s bill. 
The upper jaw if anything is slightly the longest; the maxilla extends about half way to the 
orbit. The mouth is narrow and the lips fleshy. The margins of the orbits are roughened in 
places, owing to several furrows terminating there, but are not denticulated. Preorbital roughened 
in irregular lines. Preopercle high and narrow, with its angle slightly produced and rounded, its 
horizontal length being two thirds that of its vertical, the whole is roughened in lines which are 
deepest about the angle and the horizontal portion, where they coalesce. Opercle narrow, about 
twice as high as wide, and ending in a dull point. Branchiostegal rays entirely hidden by the 
gill covers. Interorbital space with a ridge down its centre, and also along each side, approaching 
each other closely at the snout. Nostrils rather wide apart, the distance of the anterior one from 
the superior margin of the upper jaw equals the distance of the posterior one from the margin of 
the orbit, whilst they are slightly less than this distance apart. Shoulder bones furrowed but 
entire. 
Teeth—In jaws, in a single sharp and compressed row. 
Fins—Pectoral commences under opercle : dorsal opposite its middle third : ventral opposite 
third dorsal spine, and the anal opposite the eighth dorsal spine. Dorsal spines strong, sharp, 
and capable of being laid flat, but no groove exists on the back for their reception: their base 
occupies five sevenths of the entire fin, interspinous membrane deeply notched : from the fourth 
spine all are of nearly equal height excepting the last, which is rather produced. In the soft 
portion the second, third and fourth rays are the longest, and this portion of the fin is of rather a 
triangular shape, but rounded at its posterior extremity. Anal of the same shape as the dorsal, 
but the spines are rather stronger, and occupy three fifths of the entire fin. Ventral with the 
external spine stronger than the internal one : the fin of the generic type. Pectoral of an obtuse 
triangular form, the second ray the longest. A very short portion of the base of the tail finless. 
Caudal deeply emarginate. 
Scales—Small and cycloid extending over the whole body, and to the suborbital region. 
Lateral line—Conspicuous, in upper fifth of body, following the curve of the back: opposite 
the end of dorsal it becomes straight, and central. 
Colours—Light brownish, running into a bluish green on the back, and light bluish on the 
abdomen. The whole of the body, head, forehead, and lips are lineated with undulating, 
narrow blue lines, some few of which end in thick rounded points; as a rule they are about a 
fourth the width of the ground colour which they encircle, but towards the abdomen the blue 
portion becomes wider and lighter, so that it appears as if the lower surface of the fish were blue, 
with brown undulating fines which are rounder, and shorter than those of the back. The tail and 
the caudal fin also appear as if they were blue, with brown fines. The dorsal, ventral, and anal, 
brownish, and the first and last stained with a dark slate colour. The caudal of a more or less 
slate coloured tint, and also stained with black at its termination. Pectoral a fight slate colour, 
which after death rapidly turns yellowish. Eyes fight coloured. In the young specimens the 
convolutions are wider, and the back greener. 
It grows to eleven inches in length, and is asserted by the Natives to be good eating. 
Habitat—Seas of Malabar, Malaysia, and the Mauritius. 
