138 
THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 
most apparent on the upper portion. Pectoral fin with a light base, dark at its outer third owing 
to the membrane being minutely dotted with black. Ventral and anal white, the latter greyish 
near its anterior extremity, but with a white margin. Both dorsals appear grey, owing to their 
being minutely dotted with black points, the outer margin of the second dorsal is lighter than its 
basal half. Caudal light coloured, with the external and posterior margins grey, due to the 
presence of minute black dots. 
It is from this species of mullet that the fine fish roes are obtained for which Cochin is so 
famous. The roe is removed as soon as the fish is captured, and is then dried in the sun. The 
season commences about the middle of October, or beginning of November, when these fish swarm 
into the river to deposit their spawn. By the month of February mullets known as Cunnumboo, 
Mai. begin to be scarce, and by April they are almost unprocurable. 
This species is excellent eating when not more than a foot and a half in length, for the larger 
ones are dry. It grows to three feet in length. 
Habitat—Bed Sea, Seas of India and of Malaysia. 
* Mugil subyiridis. 
Mugil subyiridis, Cuv. & Veil. xi. p. 115; Gunther, Catal. iii. p. 423. 
D. 4 | i. A.f. L. 1. 30. L. tr. 11. 
Length of head -pp of the total length, and pectoral rather shorter than the length of the head, 
the snout not included. Height of body of the total length. 
Eyes—With adipose lids well developed : the distance between the eyes is equal to f of the 
length of the head. 
Snout broad, obtuse, depressed, and as long as the eye; its anterior margin is formed by the 
upper lips which are moderately thick. The maxilla is bent downwards behind and below the 
angle of the mouth, where its extremity is visible. A very obtuse angle made by the anterior 
margins of the mandibular bones. Cleft of mouth at least thrice as broad as deep. The interman- 
dibular space is rather short and cuneiform. Preorbital angularly bent, its extremity subtruncated 
and denticulated. 
Fins—Eighteen scales between the snout and the origin of the first dorsal fin. Pectoral 
is inserted above the middle of the height of the body, it has a very obtuse and rudimentary scale 
in its axil (absent according to Dr. Gunther) and extends to the seventh horizontal row of scales. 
The eleventh and twentieth scales of the lateral line correspond to the origins of the dorsal fins. 
Nearly the whole of the anterior half of the anal is before the second dorsal. Caudal emarginate. 
Scales—Extend over body, cheeks, lower jaw, summit of head, and the soft dorsal and anal 
fins. 
Colours—Back greyish green : sides silvery, shot with golden : caudal stained with black. 
Grows to eight inches in length. 
Habitat—Seas of India. 
Mugil Sundanensis. 
Mugil Sundanensis, Bleeker , Sumatra, ii. p. 265 ; Gunther , Catal. iii. p. 425. 
B. v. D. 4 | 1. P. 15. V. l. A. |. L. 1. L. tr. 9. 
Length of head i, of pectoral of caudal T 2 T , of base of first dorsal T L, of base of second 
