20 MALAYAN FISHES. 
The Tapah has a pair of pectoral spines only, but the Sém- 
bilang, Patin, Lawang, Pédukang and Baung have both pec- 
toral spines and a dorsal spine, 
A wound from these spines is extremely painful and the angler 
who captures one of these fish for the first time is advised to take a 
lesson from a Malay in the proper method of grasping them, which 
is very simple but worth knowing. 
They are valuable food fishes and are in great demand among 
all Malays, Chinese and natives of India. Some species are con- 
sidered to possess exceptionally nourishing qualities and are pres- 
cribed for patients recovering from illness. 
They will live for hours out of water and can be transported 
for long distances, 
The popularity of the Krian district of Perak among natives 
of India is due primarily to the rice fields and secondly to the fact 
that cat-fishes, as well as other fish, swarm in the rice fields and 
irrigation ditches, 
A volume might be written on the Cat-fishes alone. One in- 
teresting characteristic is the great care they take of their eggs and 
young. The Pédukang, for instance, lays very few but very 
large eggs which look like gelatine capsules and these they carry 
about in their mouths. As the Pédukang are among the com- 
monest estuarine fishes, any observer can obtain them during the 
breeding season and see for himself the egg in every stage of 
development, and in the final stage, immediately before hatching. 
the tiny fish is distinctly visible through the translucent envelope 
of the egg. 
LOACHES AND CARP. 
(COBITIDAE & CYPRINIDAE.) 
Only two Loaches, the Ikan pasir and the Lali, are mentioned 
in this work, but judging from records of species in Java, Sumatra 
and Borneo, there should be at least 20 species. 
The Ikan pasir (Acanthopsis choirorhynchus) is quite com- 
mon in the Pahang river and is good eating. 
The Carp family of fresh water fishes to which our Roach, 
Tench and Gudgeon belong is represented in our Malayan rivers 
by certainly not less than 100 species. 
The very incomplete list in this book gives some 28 Malay 
synonyms only. There is an interesting hobby and good sport 
with a fly and spinner awaiting any planter or prospector who lives 
near the upper reaches of any of the rivers in the Peninsula. An 
oil drum can easily be converted into a specimen tank in which 
rare fish may be preserved in spirit. The Directors of the F, M. 8. 
and 8. S. Museums would be only too glad, I feel sure, to mount 
and display specimens, and as the field is practically untouched the 
collector has more than a sporting chance of discovering and per- 
haps giving his name to a new species. 
