THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 
141 
the centre. Cleft of mouth rather more than twice as broad as deep. The free intermandibular 
space tongue-shaped, and moderately long. 
Teeth—A fine row in the upper jaw, more apparent in the young than the adult. 
Fins—Pectoral fin a little above the central line of the body, and extending to the eighth 
scale. No elongated scale at its base. Twenty scales from snout to origin of first dorsal, which 
commences nearer the snout than the caudal fin, and above the eighth scale on the lateral line. 
Eight scales between the two dorsal fins. First dorsal spines strong, the first the strongest and 
equal in length to the second : when laid flat they scarcely extend more than half way from their 
origin to the base of the second dorsal. Second dorsal, pectoral, anal, and caudal with some fine 
scales at their bases. Caudal emarginate. Pectoral rounded. Ventral with a pointed scale at its 
origin. 
Scales—Rather irregular in size, highest from above downwards, each scale on the body and 
bases of the fins in the adult fish with a round or irregular cavity or gland in its centre of a deep black 
colour; in the young fish these are not so apparent, and until they are about three inches in length 
the black central spot is hardly discernible. The scales on the head vary much in shape, the pos¬ 
terior ones being irregularly quadrilateral, and the central ones between the orbits nearly round, 
but with deeply emarginated sides. 
Colours—G-reyish shot with silver, lightest on the sides and abdomen, each scale with a deep 
black central spot; fins stained with grey: pinkish golden about the cheeks. 
Common in Cochin. Grows to eight inches in length ; is good eating. 
Habitat—Malabar. v 
Mugil CUNNUMBOO. 
B. V. D. 4 | 1. P. 15. V. 1. A. T V C. 15. L. 1. 34. L. tr. 11. 
Length of head I, of pectoral ^, of caudal T 3 g, of base of first dorsal jq, of base of second 
dorsal of base of anal %% of total length. Height of head of body of first dorsal of 
second dorsal of ventral of anal of the total length. 
Eyes—With an adipose lid on either side ^ their width. Horizontal diameter §, vertical 
diameter of the length of head : \ a diameter from the end of snout : 2 diameters apart. 
Body rather broad, the upper profile more convex than that of the abdomen, which is nearly 
straight. Head compressed so that a distinct ridge exists from the posterior superior angle of the 
orbit to the upper edge of the base of the pectoral fin. 
Mouth rather pointed, the centre of the intermaxillaries forming 
superiorly a rather broad knob, which interiorly is notched in the centre 
to receive the tubercle of the lower jaw. Hpper jaw longest, and the 
depth of the mouth one half of its width. Mandibulae broad and 
flattened, the two meeting at an angle where there is a deep emargi- 
nation, free space tongue-shaped. Preorbital triangular, strongly 
bent at its external end, the extremity of which is rounded and ser¬ 
rated, a few more serratures likewise exist along its inferior margin 
which is notched near its extremity. Lower end of maxilla not 
covered. Opercle ending superiorly in a fine point just above the 
lateral ridge. Interorbital space flat. Posterior nostril broad, oval: 
the anterior the smallest and circular, both situated rather above the 
level of the orbit. Preopercle with a broad glandular opening opposite the lower third of the orbit, 
a second at its angle directed backwards and downwards, whilst there is a third intermediate: 
