14 FISHERIES OF THE ORIENTAL REGION, 



one of a ganoid fish. There are only three species known : 

 0. bicirrhosum from the Brazils ; 0. formosum from Borneo, 

 Sumatra, and the Malay Peninsula ; 0. leichhardtii from north 

 and east Australia. From the fact that this fish is found 

 associated with Sirenidse in every place except the Indian region, 

 Dr. Giinther concludes that a Dipnoous form will be found 

 there too. 



During my stay in the Malay Peninsula, I made several collec- 

 tions of fishes, but was not always fortunate in bringing them in a 

 good state of preservation to Australia. Most of the fishes were 

 obtained by purchase either directly from the Malays in their 

 fishing boats or in the markets. A few were obtained by fishing 

 with dynamite in some tributary streams of the Perak, such as the 

 Kenas, and some of the mountain streams. The following is the 



list :— 



ACANTHOPTERYGII PERCIFORMES. 



Fam. SCORPJENIDJE. 

 Centropogon (indicus ?), Day. In the brackish waters of the 

 river Perak, where it was much feared by the natives on account 

 of the spines about its head. 



ACANTHOPTERYGII BLENNIIFORMES. 



Fam. MASTACEMBELID^E. 



Mastacembelus unicolor, Cuv. and Val. Perak river near 

 Kuala Kangsa. Though named unicolor, it is brownish and has 

 three or four rows of yellow spots or blotches along the sides. The 

 vertical fins have also a yellowish margin. 



Mastacembelus armatus, Lacep. Known as the thorny-backed 

 eel amongst Europeans in India. Malay name Ikan-belida. 



ACANTHOPTERYGII CHANNIFORMES. 



Fam. OPHIOCEPHALIDJE. 

 Ophiocephalus micropeltes, Cuv. and Val. Salama river, also 

 the Kinta. This fish attains three feet in length, and is found on 

 the Malabar and western coasts of India, Siam and the Malay 



