BY THE REV. J. E. TENJSON-WOODS. 33 



prominent, strong canine on either side of both lower and upper 

 jaws, which makes the appearance of the mouth both conspicuous 

 and formidable. This species has the same range as the last. 



Sclena diacanthus, Lacep. = Johnius diacanthus, Cantor, 

 Catal. p. 67. Malay name Ikan tambareh. Seas of India, 

 Malaysia and China. Attaining at least five feet in length. It 

 ascends tidal rivers and estuaries, and is found in the Hooghly 

 as high as Calcutta. A species very similar, is known as * Jew- 

 fish' in Australia. 



Lobotes surinamensis, Bloch, = Lobotes erate, Cantor, Catal. 

 p. 80. Dr. Giinther (Catal. Vol. I. p. 338) says this fish is found 

 on the Atlantic coasts of America from New York to Surinam, 

 Caribbean Sea, Ceylon, Bay of Bengal, Straits of Java, Sunda, 

 Molucca and China Seas ; and I obtained it in two places in the 

 Philippines, on the coasts of Luzon and Negros. It is also on the 

 east coast of Africa and the Indian seas to Malaysia. On the 

 north coast of Borneo, when in H.M.S. 'Pegasus,' we caught one 

 nearly three feet long. It is excellent eating, yielding but little 

 isinglass. The Malay name is Ikan batu, or Bock fish. 



Arius coelatus, Cuv. and Yal. Malay name Ikan doonee or 

 Saludu. This genus has already been referred to, and is easily 

 known by its being a Siluroid with an osseous, or mailed head. 

 The genus is the largest amongst the cat-fishes, being well repre- 

 sented in nearly every tropical country with large rivers. Some 

 of the species are of large size, as much as five feet long. All are 

 well armed with formidable dorsal and pectoral spines. The eggs 

 are mostly hatched in an extraordinary manner, that is, in the 

 mouth and throat of the male fish. When they are captured at 

 this time the stomach is always found to be empty, and in those 

 examined, some of the eggs were in an early stage of development, 

 others nearly hatched, or actually hatched with the yolk bag 

 adherent. The eggs fill the cavity of the mouth and extend far 

 back into the gills. Dr. Cantor mentions three species from which 

 isinglass is derived, A. truncatus, A. militaris, and A. arius. The 

 last-named may possibly be A. falcarius, Cuv. and Yal. : the 

 other species I have been unable to identify. The only species 



