216 
THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 
anal j 1 ^- of total length. Height of head j- s , of body above - 3 -, of dorsal fin excluding its fila¬ 
mentous prolongation -I-, of dorsal including its filamentous prolongation of ventral {^, of anal 
\ of total length. 
Eyes—Circular, diameter f of length of head, nearly 1 diameter from end of snout, I 3 dia¬ 
meters apart. 
Body rather elliptical, compressed, narrower posteriorly than anteriorly: profile rising from 
snout to the first dorsal from whence it sinks but more gradually to the caudal. Abdominal profile 
more convex than that of the back. 
Mouth rather small, slightly oblique, the maxilla extends to beneath the anterior margin of 
the orbit. Opercle triangular, base in front, and posterior extremity rounded. Preopercle narrow, 
posterior margin slightly oblique, inferior nearly horizontal, angle rounded. Preorbital nearly 
square, extending forwards slightly over the maxilla, the anterior portion of the suborbital ring of 
bones narrowest, upper surface of head smooth, rather a notch between it and snout. Nostrils 
situated in front of the anterior superior angle of the orbit. 
Teeth—Pharyngeal teeth curved, pointed, and in three rows, 5, 3, 2 | 2, 3, 5. 
Fins—-The pectoral arises in the lower fourth of the body, and under the posterior margin of 
the opercle : dorsal rather nearer snout than base of caudal: ventral under fourth dorsal ray : anal 
midway between base of pectoral and posterior extremity of lower lobe of the caudal. Dorsal with 
its first three rays unbranched, the first of which is very small, the second nearly half the length 
of the third, which ends in a soft point, and is often as long as the first branched ray : the whole 
of the branched rays end in filamentous prolongations, which are usually absent in the yoimg 
(Leuciscus Mahecola , C. <Sf V.). The third, fourth and fifth are mostly the longest, in certain 
seasons they appear to lose their prolongations, and generally one or more are deficient. The 
membrane between the rays only extends two-thirds of their height. Anal with external margins 
rather concave. Caudal with wide lobes. 
Scales-Large, vertical diameter the longest, each with three or more lines radiating towards 
their circumference. 
Lateral line—Concave, parallel with the abdomen to opposite the end of the dorsal, when it 
proceeds direct to the centre of caudal. A row of scales along the bases of dorsal and anal fins. 
Colours—Silvery white with a greenish back, and a diffused black spot on the lateral line at 
the side of the tail; each scale is margined with a beautiful metallic green. Pectoral flesh- 
coloured : ventral colourless : anal margined with deep red : caudal red tipped with black, and 
having a white extremity. 
Common in some tanks and also found in rivers. Is considered good eating by the Natives. 
Grows to eight inches in length. 
Habitat—Fresh waters of Malabar and the Coromandel coast. 
Group CATLiE, Bleeker. 
Genus AMBLYPHARYNGODON, Bleeker. 
Brachygramma, Day. 
Branchiostegals, three: pseudobranchise. Body elongated, sides compressed, abdomen rather flat 
beneath. Snout short, broad, depressed. Preorbital triangular, apex directed downwards. No cirri. 
Eyes of moderate size, with free circular lids. Mouth anterior, gape wide, cleft oblique and of moderate 
