142 
THE FISHES OF MALABAE. 
another is present on the horizontal limb close to the angle, a second small one at its anterior extre¬ 
mity, and a third intermediate. The rest of the glands on the head are as in the M. cunnesius, 
C. $ V. 
No teeth apparent. 
Fins—Pectoral arises in the centre of the height of the body, and extends to the eighth scale 
on the lateral line, it is rather pointed, and has a very small elongated scale at its axil. The first 
dorsal arises on the twenty-first scale from the snout, and on the eighth of the lateral line, its 
second spine is midway between the snout and the base of the caudal fin : spines strong, especially 
the first, the length of which equals the distance from the posterior margin of the orbit to the 
posterior margin of the opercle: the second spine is slightly and the last half shorter than the 
first: the fin has an elongated scale at its base extending to just beyond its last spine, whilst the 
groove for its reception is very shallow. The ventral arises about midway between the base of the 
pectoral and the base of the first dorsal, and on the ninth scale of the lateral fine, it has a small 
elongated scale at its base. The second dorsal arises opposite the twentieth scale of the lateral 
line and the third soft ray of the anal: its spine is not quite half the length of the first ray: fin 
rliomboidal, its anterior margin the highest, its upper border straight, and its last ray double, and 
scarcely a fourth as long as the first : base of rays almost entirely hidden by scales. Anal with 
the first spine minute and short, and the second nearly as long as the third, which is more than 
half as long as the first ray: the fin is covered with scales excepting on its extremity, its last ray 
is double, and a third the height of the first. Caudal lunated in its posterior third. 
Scales—Rather irregular in size, covering the posterior three fourths of the caudal, and most 
of the soft dorsal, anal, pectoral and ventral fins : most of the scales have fine longitudinal grooves, 
but those under the base of the pectoral pass downwards and backwards. The scales on the 
summit of the head are more regular than in most of the other species of mullets found in Malabar. 
Colours—Silvery, upper surface of body of a greenish blue, darkest on the back, and becoming 
whitish on the abdomen, the edges of the scales being of the lightest tint. The whole fish is 
longitudinally striped with grey along the centre of each scale. Cheeks tinged with golden : a 
dark spot over the summit of the base of the pectoral fin. Dorsal greyish, very minutely dotted 
with dark grey. Second dorsal whitish with a dark grey tip, being minutely dotted with fine points 
of a darker tint. Caudal with a white base, and its posterior third grey, dotted with spots of the 
same colour. Ventral and anal white, pectoral with a dark margin to its upper rays. 
Grows to two feet in length, and is excellent eating. 
Habitat—Malabar. 
Mugil parsia. 
Mugil parsia, Ham. Buck. pp. 215, 380, pi. 17, f. 71; Cuv. & Val xi. p. 144; 
Gunther , Catal. iii. p. 426. 
B. vi. D. 4 | 1. P. 14. V. l. A. 8 3 g. C. 14. L. 1. 35. L. tr. 12. 
Length of head i, of pectoral y 2 r , of base of second dorsal y^, of base of anal T X T , of caudal § 
of the total length. Height of head y 2 y, of body §, of first dorsal , of second dorsal of 
anal j- s of the total length. 
Eyes—With adipose lids on their posterior fourth. Diameter ^ of length of head, ^ diameter 
from end of snout, 1 diameters apart. 
Snout short, broad, depressed, with its anterior margin acute: lips thin : the maxilla bent 
behind the angle of the mouth and its .extremity not covered by the preorbital. The anterior 
