THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 
183 
Body widest opposite the opercles, profile rises to the first dorsal, and from thence gradually 
sinks to the caudal. Abdominal surface more convex than that of the back. 
Gape of mouth extends across the front of the head, and its cleft to beneath the posterior third 
of the orbit. Lower jaw rather the longest, roughened below. Central longitudinal groove on 
head lanceolate, widest opposite the posterior extremity of the orbit; extending anteriorly to the 
snout, posteriorly to midway between the snout and the base of the occipital process. Occipital 
process rugose, as wide at the base as it is high, and extending to the basal bone of the first 
dorsal. Sides of head roughened. Opercles slightly lineated, and covered with small round de¬ 
pressions. Apertures of nostrils circular, approximating, the posterior one covered by a valve, 
close to the anterior superior angle of the orbit, and the anterior one situated just in front of it. 
Two short mandibular cirri exist, equal in length to a fourth of the diameter of the eye. Shoulder 
bones almost naked, marked with depressions. Basal bone of dorsal spine crescent-shaped, and 
narrow. 
Teeth—In upper jaw in from four to five rows, with long rather obtuse heads, the two anterior 
rows—which contain the largest teeth—separated by a short interspace from three posterior ones. 
The outer band of the upper jaw extends furthest laterally. Teeth in lower jaw the same as in 
the upper: those in the palate rather smaller but of the same description, placed in two straight 
widely separated patches. 
Fins—First dorsal arises opposite the middle of the pectoral: ventral midway between the 
snout and the posterior extremity of the lower lobe of the caudal : anal opposite end of ventral: 
adipose dorsal over the fifth anal ray. The first spine of the dorsal is equal to the distance from 
the angle of the mouth to the posterior extremity of the bony opercle : it is laterally compressed and 
not quite so high as the first ray : also serrated posteriorly in the upper half, and anteriorly rugose 
in its whole extent; the rays decrease in length from the first to the last. The adipose dorsal is 
one and a half times as long as wide. Pectoral spine compressed, stronger, and one sixth longer 
than that of the dorsal, serrated interiorly, rugose in its whole extent externally. Ventral rounded. 
Anal with the fifth ray the longest, from which they decrease to the last. Caudal lobed, the lower 
lobe the longest. 
Lateral fine—Gradually sinks to opposite the base of the anal, being almost concave above, 
and from thence it proceeds direct to the base of the caudal, where it divides into two branches, 
the upper of which crosses over the base of the two rays above, and then goes direct to the end of 
the caudal, the lower branching downwards in the same manner. 
Colours—Upper surface of head and body silvery, becoming white on the abdomen. Dorsal 
dark grey, tipped with black. Superior half of the upper lobe of the caudal black. Pectoral with 
a slightly greyish tint: other fins yellowish. Eyes golden. 
By no means rare at Cochin, especially in the cold months. Grows to a foot and a half in 
length, but is not esteemed for eating, although the lower classes of Natives employ it as food. 
Habitat—Seas of India and Malaysia. 
