between that of ventrals and pectorals. First dorsal spine of first 

 dorsal minute, second one the strongest but not so long as the 

 third, somewhat shorter than snout and eye. Origin of second 

 dorsal well in advance of that of anal. Spine of second dorsal less 

 than half as long as second one of first dorsal and somewhat 

 shorter than second anal spine. First anal spine very small. 

 Dorsals, anal and proximal part of caudal scaly. Caudal deeply 

 forked, the lobes pointed. Pectorals slightly falciform, 12 — 13 

 of their rays divided, equal to distance between middle of eye 

 and hindborder of operculum. The two upper free pectoral 

 filaments are about of equal length and longer than the others, 

 they reach to middle of ventrals or somewhat farther. Ventrals 

 "'/- length of pectorals. Distance between origin of ventrals 

 and anal much less than length of head, somewhat more than 

 postorbital part of head- Scales with a finely striated and 

 crenulated hindborder. Colour of alcohol specimen golden, fins 

 yellowish, more or less dusky. Inner side of operculum pig- 

 mented with black, shining through at the outside. A large 

 black blotch at the beginning of the lateral line. Length 190 mm. 

 [Description after a specimen from Calcutta]. 



Norn, i n d i g. : Kuru (Malay Batavia). 



Habitat: Sumatra (Benkulen, Priaman); Banka; Java (Ba- 

 tavia). — From East Coast of Africa (Natal) to British India, 

 Ceylon, Siam, Pinang and China. 



In sea. 



8. Polynemus melanochir C.V. 



Polyiieimis melanochir Cuvier & Valenciennes, Hist. Nat. Poissons VII. 1831, p. 513. 

 Polynemus melanochir Bleeker, Verb. Bat. Gen. XXII. 1849, Bijdr. Percoiden p. 60. 



D'.VIII;D-. I. II — 12; A. III. 15; P. 14 + 7; V. 1.5; L.l. 51 '); 



L. tr. I . 



10 . 



Height 2.9 — 3, 4.1 in length with caudal. Head 3.4 — 3.5, 



4.5 — 4.9 in length with caudal. Eyes 3.9 — 4.1, 2.3 — 2.6 in 

 postorbital part of head, and scarcely less than the interorbital 

 space. Snout much shorter than eye. Mouth large, reaching 

 far behind eye. Maxillaries scaly, 1.6 — 1.8 in head. Head covered 

 with scales to end of snout. Nostrils close together, about 

 half way between tip of snout and eye. Praeoperculum 



1) 35 — 40 according to Bleeker, but tliis must be a misprint, as we counted 

 51 in specimens from Bleeker's collection. 



