THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 
155 
head beyond the end of the jaw. Cleft of mouth small, and extending about half-way to the orbit. 
Preopercle with two spines at its angle directed backwards and downwards, and some fine serra- 
tures along its lower limb. A rather long, strong, sharp, and erectile preorbital spine. 
Teeth—Several rows of sharply pointed teeth, directed backwards, in both upper and lower 
jaws. 
Fins—Dorsal spines strong, short and sharp, commencing about the termination of the first 
fifth of the body. Soft dorsal, caudal and anal united. Anal spines strong, the central one the 
longest and strongest, the third nearly hidden ; they can be laid flat in a kind of sheath. 
Scales—Cover the whole of the head, including the interorbital space, and to the end of the 
snout. There are thirteen rows between the orbit and the angle of the preopercle. 
Lateral fine—As in the last species. 
Colours—Greenish brown. A yellowish white streak passes from just above the eye, along 
the lateral line to the centre of the caudal. Abdomen from vent to head of dull yellowish white, 
with a number of blotchy markings extending on to it from the sides. Opercles greyish brown, 
and the throat of the same colour. Preopercle of a fighter tint, and the lower jaw of a dirty white. 
Soft portion of the dorsal dotted with brown, and with fourteen irregular blotches along its base, 
extending on to the back. Caudal with a black bar at its base, and four or five fighter ones 
between that and its extremity. Anal irregularly spotted. 
Very common in the paddy fields and in the backwater at Trichoor. 
Grows to seven inches in length. Is good eating. 
Habitat—Malabar. . 
