154 
THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 
Length of head of pectoral of caudal of base of first dorsal yq> of base of second 
dorsal -J, of base of anal a little more than $ of total length. Height of head yhr, of body of 
first dorsal about of second dorsal 3 L, of anal -gy of total length. 
Eyes—Horizontal diameter y 1 ^, vertical diameter yg of length of head, 2\ diameters from end 
of snout, rather more than ^ a horizontal diameter apart. 
Body elongated and eel-like, laterally compressed, head pointed. 
Mouth rather oblique, cleft narrow, jaws not protractile, the upper the longest, with a soft 
elongated snout trilobed at its end, and about equal to one diameter and a quarter of the orbit in 
length ; lips fleshy. Posterior margin of the maxilla extends to rather behind the anterior margin 
of the orbit. Opercle rounded posteriorly, without any spine. Preopercle with the posterior 
border short and rather vertical; the angle and lower limb forming an oblique curve ; at the angle 
there are two sharp spines directed backwards, the superior nearly twice as long as the inferior. 
Nostrils large and opposite the centre of the orbit. Two small spines beneath the orbit. 
Teeth—Villiform, and in several sharp rows. 
Fins—First dorsal commences over the posterior third of the pectoral, and the anal rather 
in front of the second dorsal and continuous with the caudal. Pectoral short and rounded. The 
first dorsal consists of a series of sharp spines,—connected in their posterior lower halves by a 
short membrane,—increasing very gradually in length from the first to the last, which is strong, 
rounded, and nearly as long as the rays of the second dorsal. The second dorsal is continuous 
with the caudal and consists of branched rays. Caudal with a square base and a rather rounded 
extremity. Anus midway between the posterior border of the opercle and the base of the caudal, 
behind it there are two spines, the first being short, the second strong and tapering, one third 
longer than the last dorsal spine, they can be received into a sheath: anteriorly, and nearer 
to the commencement of the anal fin, there is a third very short sharp spine hidden in the flesh. 
Scales—Yery minute, they cover the opercles and head. 
Lateral line—Nearly straight. 
Colours—Dark green, marbled in about twenty stripes, and with a yellowish tinge; the 
anterior portion of the abdomen dirty white, and the under surface of the throat white. Caudal 
and pectoral fins barred. 
Air vessel simple, lengthened and pointed at both extremities. 
Common in the rivers of Malabar, and is good eating, especially when curried. It is dangerous 
to handle on account of its spines. 
Grows to two feet and upwards in length. 
Habitat—Fresh waters of India, Ceylon, and China. 
Mastacemblus Guntheri. Plate XI. 
Mastacemblus Guntheri, Day , Proc. Zool. Soc. 1865, p. 37. 
B. vi. D. 27-28 | 60-64. P. 15. A. 3 | 62-64. C. 9. 
Length of head y, of pectoral ^ 3 , °f caU( lal jbr, of base of hard dorsal ?, of soft dorsal 4, of 
anal § of total length. Height of head of body ,j, of soft dorsal ^ 3 , of anal yL of total length. 
Eyes—Diameter ^ length of head, rather more than 1 diameter apart, and 4 diameters from 
end of snout. 
Upper jaw longer than the lower. The soft snout extends one tenth of the length of the 
