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Show 150 MR. F. DAY ON NEW INDIAN FISHES. [Feb. 13, Scales cover the body, and form a partial sheath to the dorsal and anal fins, but there are none on the top of the head. They are strongly ctenoid and in parallel rows. Lateral line in single tubes, following the curve of the back in the upper fourth of the body. Colours. Bluish silvery along the back and sides, and rosy along the abdomen. Fins yellowish ; dorsal < range; spines black. The interspinous membrane between the first three dorsal spines and also between the sixth and last is deep black. A single specimen captured at Madras, June 6th, 1867. PERCIDAE. MESOPRION CHIRTAH, Cuv. & Val. B.vii. D. 11/14. P. 17. V. 1/5. A. 3/9. C. 17. L. 1.55. L. tr. 10/25. Length of specimens from 1 ly*^ to 16 inches. Length of head f, of pectoral \, of base of dorsal spines f, of base of dorsal rays |, of base of anal \, of caudal f of the total length. Height of head \, of dorsal spines \, of dorsal rays \, of ventral \, of anal 1 of the total length. Eyes. Upper margin \ of diameter from the profile; diameter | of length of head, 1 diameter apart, 1^ diameter from end of snout. Posterior extremity of maxilla extends to nearly beneath the anterior extremity of the orbit. Prseoperculum slightly emarginate, smooth superiorly and serrated inferiorly, whilst the posterior portion of its vertical limb has some widely separated denticulations. Teeth. A n external row of conical teeth in the upper jaw, and several rows of villiform ones posterior to it; the same in the lower jaw, except that the villiform ones are only in its central portion. Villiform in vomer and palate. Dorsal spines weak, the fourth the longest. First anal spine a little above one-third the length of the second, which is much the strongest, but not quite so long as the third. Caudal broad and slightly emarginate. Colours. Uniform bright rose-colour, with an orange tinge. All the fins have a slightly dark stain at their margins. Hab. Common in Madras. I have been so fortunate as to obtain numerous specimens of this fish, from the very young to the adult, and have no hesitation in asserting that the M. annularis, C. & V., is the young of this species, and the M. malabaricus the semiadult. Before describing the specimens, it will be necessary to offer a few remarks upon what has been written respecting these fish. Russell was the original observer of the M. chirtah, which he figures in his 'Fishes of Vizagapatam;' his specimen was 13 inches long. Dr. Jerdon omits the M. chirtah from amongst the list of his fishes of Madras, but states that the M. annularis is one of the commonest of the tribe there. Dr. Gunther rejects the M. chirtah, but remarks that the M. malabaricus is perhaps a variety of the M. annularis. |