TITE FISIIES OF MALABAR. 
127 
opposite tlie orbits. The height of the body opposite the posterior extremities of the dorsal and 
anal fins, equals one third the height opposite the ventral and commencement of dorsal. 
Mouth small, upper jaw slightly the longest. Preopercle long and narrow, its inferior margin 
rather oblique, and more than one third the length of its posterior border, which slopes downwards 
and forwards. Opercle narrow. The distance from the nostril to the anterior edge of the upper 
jaw equals two thirds the length from the posterior margin of the opercle to snout. 
Teeth—In a single compressed row in both jaws. 
Fins—Origins of dorsal, pectoral, and ventral on a line : anal commencing opposite seventh 
dorsal spine. Dorsal spines weak ; they occupy two-fifths of the base of the fin, interspinous 
membrane very slightly emarginate. Second ray of pectoral the longest. Ventral pointed. Anal 
similar to dorsal. Caudal emarginate. 
Scales—Small. 
Lateral line—At first in upper fifth of back following its course to opposite the end of the 
dorsal fin, from whence it passes direct to the centre of the caudal. It curves upwards in its course 
over a lancet-shaped moveable spine, which is situated at the side of the tail, directed forwards, 
and receivable into a sheath. 
Colours—Leaden black, with several badly marked yellow stripes or lines passing longitudi¬ 
nally along the body in the young, but which in the adult are of a yellowish brown, with bluish 
margins; when the fish is dead it is of a dull leaden grey, and the abdomen lighter. Dorsal and 
anal fins grey, with four longitudinal rusty bands. Pectoral in some specimens yellow, in others 
dark grey. Ventral and caudal grey, the last usually margined with white. Iris golden. 
Grows to eighteen inches in length, and is eaten by the lower classes. 
Habitat—Seas of India and Polynesia. 
Genus ACRONURUS, Gronow . 
Acantiiurus, sp., Cuv. & Val. 
Branehiostegals, five: pseudobranchiEe. Body oblong, compressed. Eyes lateral. One dorsal, the 
spinous portion less developed than the soft. Anal with three spines. Ventrals thoracic. Tail on either 
side armed with a strong moveable spine, directed forwards. Teeth in a single trenchant row in each jaw 
and lobate superiorly : none on the vomer or palatine bones. Skin with vertical strise, in some species 
having fine pointed elevations. No scales. 
Acronurus MELANURUS. 
Acronurus melanurus, Cuv. & Val. x. p. 240 5 Gunther , Catal. iii. p. 346. 
B.v. D. if. P.15. V. \. A. 2 3 4 - C. 17. 
Length of head nearly of pectoral nearly f, of caudal 1, of base of dorsal rather more 
than J-, of base of anal § of total length. Height of head A of body A of hard dorsal yb, of 
soft dorsal yb> of ventral Ay, of anal -jA of total length. 
Eyes—Diameter \ length of head, f of a diameter from end of snout, a diameter apart. 
Body nearly oval, widest opposite the opercles, and strongly compressed. Month situated 
opposite the centre of the body. Profile much elevated. 
