214 BURilA, ITS PEOPLE AND PRODUCTIOXS. 



These two species closely resemble one another, save in the character of their 

 scales. The air-vessels of S. glaucus and S. sina are largely prepared on the West 

 coast of India and Sind, where they are called ' soar ' fish, which name is written 

 ' seer ' by McClelland, who erroneously refers it to a Pohjnemus, whereas, according 

 to Day, it refers to <S'. si)ia or <S'. glaucus. Soar means ' pig.' 



SCLENOIBES, Blijth. 



Eyes small. An outer row of distinct curved conical teeth in the upper jaw, 

 becoming canine-like anteriorly, and a similar inner row in the lower jaw. Villiform 

 teeth interiorly in the upper and exteriorly in the lower jaw. Aii'-vessel generally 

 with a horn-like process on either side. 



S. PAHA, Ham. Buch. 



Kga-pyek. Called ' loliiling ' by Europeans in Calcutta. 



B. vii.; D. 10 -n^is\ P- 17; V. 1; A. f ; C. 17. 



Snout not much swollen, Avith two open pores anteriorly and two more on the 

 free edge of the skin. Lower jaw sliglitly shorter, and witli a small symphysial open 

 pore. Dorsal spines weak, with filamentous ends, the third and fourth longest. 

 Caudal wedgc-sliaped, its central rays mucli the longest. Colour brown, lighter 

 below. Head shot with gold and purple. Fins yellowish. The upper half of dorsal 

 and caudal grey. Grows to 5 feet in length. 



Coasts of India and Burma. 



S. BiirniTUs, Cantor. 



OloJithus liauritus. 



B. vii. ; D. 9 t^^tt ; P. 19 ; V. J ; A. j ; C. 17. 



Upper jaw overlaps the lower. Eive open pores along the free edge of the 

 skin of the snout. Four small open pores below the manddde. Dorsal spines weak, 

 the fourth higliest. Caudal wedge-shaped. Colour light brown above, tinged with 

 gold on the belly ; head shot with purple. Grows to SJ feet or more. 



Indian seas. 



According to Cantor this fish yields an isinglass highly esteemed by the Chinese. 



To this family belongs the genus Pogmias, one or more species of wliich possess 

 the power of emittiug musical sounds. Musical fish, so called, have been noticed in 

 Burma by the Eev. C. Parish, but the species has not been identified, and if one 

 species possessing pharyngeal teeth makes those sounds, it is more than likely that 

 several species possess the power. For further remarks on this subject see Appendix 

 (Musical Fish) 



Here follows the family of Xiphiida> or Sword-fishes. These fish grow to between 

 5 and 6 feet, and are armed with a pointed bony rostrum or ' sword ' with which they 

 sometimes transfix the sides of ships, driving their sword through the copper sheathing 

 and the wooden planks beneath. They are said to attack whales, and it seems not 

 uidikely that the Xiphias rushes at a ship supposing it to be a helpless cetacean, and 

 does not discover its error till it has got the worst of the encounter and lost its snout 

 in the shock. 



Famili/ Trichiuridse. 



Branchiostcgals 7 or 8. Body elongated and compressed. Tei^th in jaws or 

 palate, several being strong and conical. Scales none or rudimentary. Air-vessel 

 present. No prominent papilla behind the vent. 



Trichiukus, Linnmus. 



Branchiostcgals 7. Body very elongate, strongly compressed, ribbon-shaped, 

 tapering to a fin-less point at the tail. Teeth in jaw and palatines, those in tho 

 maxillaries being arched and very strong, whilst the lateral ones are lancet shaped. 

 A single dorsal the whole length of the buck. Scales none. Air-vessel present. 



