196 
THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 
and then gradually downwards to opposite about the sixteenth anal ray., from whence it passes 
straight. 
Colours—Chestnut, tinged with green on the back, and lighter on the abdomen. A fine 
bluish-white line commences on the summit of the snout, passes upwards over the back of the eye, 
and then runs onwards to its termination at the tail, midway between the lateral line and the base 
of the dorsal fin. A second and much broader bluish-white line passes from the upper angle of 
the jaw, under the eye, across the centre of the opercle, meets the lateral line opposite the com¬ 
mencement of the second dorsal, and proceeds under it to the tail. Occasionally a third white 
line skirts the base of the anal fin. Fins brownish edged with black. 
Not uncommon in the backwater and estuaries of Malabar. Eaten by the lower classes. 
Grows to two feet seven inches in length. 
Habitat—Seas and estuaries of India. It is found from the Eastern coast of Africa to Japan 
and Polynesia. 
* Plotosus limbatus. 
Plotosus limbatus, Guv. & Val. xv. p. 422; Gunther , Catal. v. p. 25. 
D. 112. A. 101. C. 11. 
Length of head from to ^ of the total length. 
The nasal cirrus reaches as far as the posterior border of the orbit: and the maxillary to the 
border of the opercle. 
Colours—Of an uniform maroon •, or dark with a greenish tinge. The fins are bordered with 
black. 
Habitai>=Seas of India. 
Fam. HETEROBRANCHOIDEI, Bleelcer. 
Sub-Fam. HETEROBRANCHIFORMES, Bleelcer. 
Genus CL API AS, Gronov. 
Macropteeonotus, Lace}). 
Cossyphus & phagorus, Me Glelland. 
Branchiostegals, from seven to nine. Upper and lateral portion of head—which is broad and 
depressed—osseous, and if covered with skin it is extremely thin. Opercular bones articulated together, 
moveable. Cirri eight, fleshy, two nasal, two maxillary and four mandibular. Cleft of mouth transverse. 
Eyes small, with a free orbital margin. A dendritic accessory respiratory apparatus is attached to the 
convex side of the second and fourth branchial arches and is received into a cavity behind the gill-cavity 
proper. Dorsal fin long, and without a spine, it extends from the neck nearly to the caudal: no adipose 
fin. Anal long, extending almost to caudal. Pectoral with a sharp spine. Ventral with six rays. 
Teeth in jaws in villiform bands, and a transverse band of villiform or granular ones on the vomer : villiform 
also on palate. 
Marpoo, Russell , pi. 168. 
Clabias magur. 
