136 
THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 
Fins—Pectoral arises close to the posterior margin of the opercle, and above the central line 
of the body : ventral opposite the posterior extremity of the pectoral ; first dorsal opposite the 
posterior end of the ventral, and the breadth of one scale nearer the commencement of the anal 
than to that of the ventral ; the second dorsal commences six scales behind the posterior extremity 
of the first dorsal, and the anal arises rather in front of it. The spines of the first dorsal are fin e, 
with hair-like terminations, and the membrane is rather deeply cleft; the first four are close 
together, and the fifth rather further apart. Pectoral slightly pointed, with a rather broad base. 
Second dorsal highest in front, with the upper margin rather concave : anal of the same shape. 
Caudal rather deeply lobed. 
Scales—Cycloid, and large, vertical diameter the greatest. The lateral line in the third row 
and in the centre of its course consists of two parallel tubes, above them is a semicircular notch 
excavated from the posterior margin of the scales : both anteriorly and posteriorly it consists of 
badly marked circular orifices. 
Colours—Silvery, with the upper surface of the head and back of a pale sea green, and with 
numerous fine points of black. A steel blue line, darkest above, extends along the third row of 
scales and also the upper third of the fourth. Cheeks and opercles shining silvery : muzzle and 
lips blackish. Fins diaphanous : margins of dorsal spines, and the rays of the pectoral and caudal 
finely dotted with black. Iris silvery. 
Very abundant in Malabar during the monsoon months, but a few are always present. It is 
one of several genera which are known to the Europeans as “ Whitebait,” like which it is dressed, 
especially for the breakfast table. It rarely exceeds four inches in length. 
Habitat—Eed Sea, Malabar, and Malaysia. 
Fam. MUGILIDiE. 
Genus MUGIL, Artedi , 
Branchiostegals, from five to six: pseudobranchise. Body more or less oblong and compressed. Eyes 
lateral. Cleft of mouth transverse and laterally short. Anterior margin of mandible sharp. Teeth in 
jaws feeble or absent. Two dorsals widely separated ; the first with four spines, the second longer but not 
so long as the anal, which is opposite it. Yentral abdominal, with one spine and five rays suspended from 
an elongated coracoid bone. Grill openings wide. Scales cycloid, and of moderate size. Lateral fine absent. 
A portion of stomach very muscular. Vertebrae twenty-four. 
a. With adipose eyelids. 
Mugil cunnesius. 
Cunnesee, Bussell , pi. 181. 
Mugil cunnesius, Guv. & Val. xi. p. 114; Cantor , Catal. p. 100 ; Gunther , Catal. iii. 
p. 434. 
Mahlah, Mai. 
B. v. D. 4. | l. P.17. V. l. A. f. C. 14. L. 1. 41-43. L. tr. 13-15. 
Length of head of pectoral of caudal of base of first dorsal y r , of base of second 
