BY THE REV. J. E. TENISON-WOODS. 39 



two genera, namely : — Ehynchobatus with a broad snout, a semi- 

 circular or elongated outline, rows of large tubercles and spines on 

 the head and trunk, two dorsal fins, the anterior opposite the 

 ventrals : and Rhinobatus, with two dorsal fins, the anterior situated 

 far behind the ventrals. There are two species of the first and 

 three species of the second, four of the five common in the Malay- 

 waters. I do not know what the Malay name is, but from their 

 habit of hugging the shore and moving slowly along the bottom, 

 the Tamils call them Mannulavi, or Mud-skate. The fins of some 

 of the rays are used, as also of the smaller sharks, and especially 

 species of Garcharias or large man-eating sharks, which are called 

 by the Malays Ikan hiyu ; they are, however, principally captured 

 for the sake of the oil obtained from the liver. There are about 

 1 7 species, the largest of which is G. tricuspidatus, Day. 



Other Food Fishes. — Hilsa or Sabti, the Indian mackerel, 

 the Ikan tanggiri of the Malays (Gybium commersonii), makes its 

 appearance in India in July, where it is known to Anglo-Indians 

 as the Seer-fish, attaining to the length of four feet. When of 

 the proper size they are considered the most delicate eating. 

 If small, that is under a foot long, they are dry. From 18 to 30 

 inches is the best size ; above this they become coarse. They can 

 be eaten boiled, baked or fried, but are generally considered very 

 unwholesome. The natives devour them in such quantities, when 

 the shoals come up in July, that it is said to be the cause of fatal 

 epidemics amongst them. There is no special season for them in 

 Malaysia, for they appear in the markets all the year round. 

 They are cured with tamarinds in India, and form a condiment 

 of pungent flavour, called Tamarind-fish, something like red 

 herrings and lemons, which can be obtained at the Hindoo shops 

 in Singapore. 



Mango fish or Tupsi (Polynemus paradiseus), so named in India 

 from its visiting the rivers annually, to spawn during the mango 

 season. It arrives as soon as the mango is formed on the tree, 

 and disappears at the close of the season, or about the middle of 

 July. This fish is a luxury much sought after by Europeans and 



