THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 
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membrane deeply notched, and extending slightly beyond the points of the spines. Central dorsal 
rays the longest. Ventral spine moderately strong. Anal spines strong, second the strongest, 
but not quite so long as third, they can be received into a groove the same as the dorsal spines ; 
central rays the longest, as are also those of the caudal. 
Scales—Ctenoid, greatest diameter from above downwards, they cover body, opercles and 
head, but there are none between or before the eyes, or on the preorbital; some are continued 
over the soft portions of the dorsal, anal, and base of caudal. 
Lateral line—Interrupted, at first in upper fourth of body, opposite fourth dorsal ray it ceases 
on the twenty-first scale, and before the last portion of the soft dorsal it is continued along the 
mesial line as far as, but not on to, the caudal fin. 
Colours—Of a rifle green with purplish reflections : darker on the back than on the abdomen. 
Fins greenish. Eyes yellowish green. 
I am indebted to the Rev. H. Baker, junior, for six specimens of this fish from the Hill 
ranges of Travancore. 
Grows to four inches in length. 
Habitat—Hill streams of Malabar. 
Genus PRISTOLEPIS. 
Pristolepis, Jerdon , Madras Journal, xv. 1848, p. 141. 
Catopra, Bleeker , Borneo, iii. 1851, p. 65. 
Branchiostegals, six. Body rather short, compressed. Preopercle and preorbitals serrated: opercle 
with two flat spines. Mouth protractile. One dorsal with from thirteen to fifteen spines, anal with three. 
Teeth villiform on jaws, vomer, palatine and pterygoid bones, also on the tongue. Scales ctenoid. Lateral 
line interrupted. 
* Pristolepis marginatus. 
Pristolepis marginatus, Jerdon , Madras Journal, xv. p. 141. 
B.vi. D.if. P.15. V.i A. f ?f. 
Length of head - 3 - of body, not including caudal fin. Height of body * its length. 
Body broadly oval, compressed. Jaws nearly equal. Preopercle finely serrated. Opercle 
with two flat spines. 
Teeth—Villiform in both jaws, vomer, palate, and base of tongue, with a row of larger pointed 
ones of unequal size in front of upper jaw. 
Fins—Pectoral rather large, somewhat rounded: soft portions of dorsal and anal rounded, 
much longer than the spinous. Caudal rounded. 
Scales—Large, ctenoid, some extend over bases of the dorsal and caudal fins. 
Lateral line—Interrupted, at first on third scale, subsequently central and on seventh row. 
Colours—Sap green, palest beneath ; dorsal and anal fins with a streak of orange on the 
interspinous membrane. 
Grows to four inches and upwards. 
Habitat—Hill streams of Malabar. 
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