THE FISHES OF MALABAE. 
231 
Cochin only 45 cwt. of fisli oil were exported, tlie next year merely 181 cwt., but in 1857-58, 
68,499 cwt., which augmented in the succeeding year to 102,924 cwt., and the year after to 
133,143 cwt. Again it gradually fell off until in 1862-63, as little as 115 cwt. were exported, but 
the shoals suddenly returned and in 1863-64, the exports rose to the enormous quantity of 148,206 
cwt. The fish is excellent eating, but too fat to salt well. Its general length is from six to seven 
inches. 
Habitat—Seas of Malabar and Ceylon. 
Genus PELLONA, Vcden. 
Platygastee, Swainson. 
Branchiostegals, six. Body rather elongated and compressed, abdomen strongly toothed. Mouth of 
moderate size. Upper jaw emarginate in the majority of the species, and shorter than the lower. Dorsal 
fin medial, ventral inserted before the dorsal, anal elongated. Teeth on jaws, palatine and pterygoid bones 
also on the tongue, but none on the vomer. Scales large or of moderate size. Air vessel present, commu¬ 
nicating with the oesophagus by a small duct inserted at the extremity of the stomach. 
^ Pellona Dussumieei. 
Pellona Dussumieei, Cuv. & Val. xx. p. 316, pi. 596. 
B. vi. D. 18. P.16. V. 6, A. 44-54. C. 21. 
Length of head nearly i of the total length. Height of the body ^ of the total length. 
Eyes—Diameter ^ of length of head. 
Teeth—Those on the maxilla almost horizontal behind the bone on which they are inserted. 
Body oblong, the lower profile more convex than that of the back. 
Lower jaw considerably advanced before the upper. The opercle has some striae upon it, and 
the preopercle some veins. 
Fins—Dorsal high in front: its last rays very low, and its border sloping very obliquely; it is 
entirely scaled, and the base of the rays is in a groove formed by rows of scales on either side 
larger than those of the back. The pectoral has a long scale at its axil, its first ray is strong, and 
its extremity rounded. The ventral small, and arises near the end of the pectoral, on the chest, 
and in advance of the dorsal: no long scale at its base. Anal long and very low, the number of 
its rays varies. 
Scales—Large and smooth, those on the abdominal keel similar to those of the other species 
of this genus. 
Colours—Glittering with a beautiful silvery lustre : back fawn colour with a green reflection. 
The fins bordered with black. 
Grows to one foot in length. 
Habitat—Malabar. 
