152 
THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 
Scales—Large, about one quarter longer than they are bigb. Those on tbe bead are irregular 
in their shape. 
Lateral line—Is nearly straight, with the exception of a curve behind the end of the pectoral 
fin. Its anterior portion is in the upper third of the body, its last portion central, it is marked by 
a straight elevation along the centre of each scale. 
Colours—Back dirty green, fading to yellowish white on the abdomen. A dark stripe extends 
from the eye to the tail, and from it several irregular bands pass towards the back, these are 
most numerous in those taken in dirty water. These markings are often wanting in the young. 
There are also some spots along the abdominal surface and on the dorsal and anal fins. 
Pectorals grey. Yentrals whitish and without spots. 
Grows to one foot in length, and is esteemed for eating by the Natives. 
Habitat—Fresh waters of India, Ceylon, and Burmah. 
Fam. FISTULARIDiE, Mull. 
Aulostomatoidei, et Fistularoidei, Bleeker. 
Genus FISTULARIA, Lin. sp. 
Solenostomus, sp. Klein & Gronow. 
Cannorhynchus, Cantor. 
Branchiostegals, five : pseudobranchise. Body elongated, depressed, anterior bones of skull elongated 
forming a long depressed tube which ends in a narrow mouth, jaws slightly cleft, nearly horizontal. 
Eyes lateral. Teeth small. One dorsal of moderate length and resembling the anal. Yentrals abdominal 
with six rays. Caudal forked, the two middle rays ending in long filamentous prolongations. Scales absent. 
Lateral line continuous. Air bladder large. Pyloric appendages in small numbers. Intestinal tract short. 
Fistularia serrata. 
Fistularia serrata, Cuvier , Reg. Anim.; Gunther , Catal. iii. p. 533. 
Goorum, Russell , pi. 173. 
Cannorhynchus immaculatus, Cantor , Catal. p. 211. 
B. vii. D. 13-17. P. 15. Y. 6. A. 14-15. C. 2 + 6 | 2 | 6 + 2. 
Length of head R of pectoral A§> of caudal without including its prolongation Ay> of caudal 
including its prolongation of base of dorsal Ao> of base of anal - 3 R of the total length not 
including the prolongation of its caudal fin. Height of head -R, of body A, of dorsal Ay, of anal 
A , of ventral Ay of the total length not including the prolongation of its caudal fin. 
Eyes—Close to upper profile. Horizontal diameter Ay, vertical diameter Ao of the length of 
the head, 9 horizontal diameters from end of snout, nearly 1 horizontal diameter apart. 
Body cylindrical, with an elongated flattened tubular snout. 
Orifice of mouth oblique, situated at the anterior tenth of the snout, lower jaw the longest, 
and having a tubercle at the symphysis : the posterior half of the external margin of the snout 
strongly denticulated, the most posterior denticulations being the longest and widest apart. Some 
sharp denticulations along the anterior and posterior margins of the orbit, and the anterior margin 
of which is extended into a sharp spine. There are two grooves along the upper surface of the 
