274 
THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 
backwards in rows exist in various parts of tbe body. A supraorbital row of them extends from 
the anterior margin of tbe orbit round its upper edge to above tbe spiracle : a second extends 
from a central point between tbe termination of tbe last two and proceeds along tbe back to tbe 
base of tbe first dorsal, the spines on it being much further apart than in the other lines: from 
slightly behind tbe commencement of tbe dorsal line of spines is a short diverging row on either 
side; also a row on tbe shoulder: and two or three spines on tbe scapular. 
Tbe lateral keel commences a little above tbe termination of the ventrals. 
Colours—Tbe immature are dull grey above, whitish—sometimes tinged reddish—beneath, 
with a dark or black band on tbe upper eyelid and a dark spot on either side of the snout. Also 
there is usually, but not invariably, a black spot at the root of the pectoral. The body is spotted 
with whitish, or light grey. Iris golden : pupils transverse. The adult is of a dull grey above 
and lighter on the abdomen. 
Its flesh is considered nourishing whether eaten salted or fresh, and oil from its liver is 
much esteemed. It grows to five feet in length. 
Habitat—Red Sea, Seas of India and Malaysia. 
Group RHXNOBATIDES. 
Genus RHINOBATUS, Bl. Selin. 
Snout more or less acute: the skull prolonged anteriorly into a keel, the interval between which and 
the inner margin of the pectoral fin is membraneous. The upper nasal valve is longer and more 
slender than the inner, which is shorter and broader: tbe outer lappet, which is nearly in the middle 
of the upper edge of the nostril, is slender, but extends in the form of a rounded point to the 
under margin of the nostril, and is not sharply divided from the inner valve, which extends more or less 
widely inwards. Spiracles and eyes approximating, both surrounded by a thick wall of skin : the upper 
eyelid has a central projection. The fore-lateral edge of the disk is twice gently incurved. 
* Rhinobatus obtusus. 
Rhino bates obtusus, Midi. & Henle , Plag. 122 ; Gray , Catal. Brit. Mus. p. 97; Blytli , 
Joum. Asiatic Soc. xxix. p. 37 ; Bumeril , Icli. gen. i. p. 493. 
The disk is from I to J longer than wide, and is rather more than ^ of the total length. 
Snout short, blunt, and rounded; its length—from the middle of a line passing before the 
nostrils, from one external angle to the other—is equal to the space which this line measures. 
From the anterior margin of the eyes it is two and a half times longer than is the interorbital 
space. Iveel on the snout (seen from above) is three times longer than wide at its base; it is 
narrowed in its central portion, and has a well marked groove behind, scarcely perceptible in its 
middle, but reappearing towards its anterior extremity. The distance between the nostrils is less 
than that which separates them from the border of the disk, but similar to the width of their 
opening. A prolongation or rather strong fold of skin exists at the posterior part of the air-hole. 
Scales—Are in the form of an ace of spades, with a very dull point directed backwards ; many 
are covered with an enamel-like substance, which causes its lateral grooves to appear dotted with 
