MALAYAN FISHES. .19 



QUEENSLAND-SMELT, ETC. 



(SCOPELIDAE.) 



One of the best known members of tiii.^ family is the Lumi 

 or Luli (Harpodon nehereus) which, when newly taken, is bril- 

 liantlj' phosphorescent all over the body : in a salted and dry con- 

 dition it is the " Bombay-duck " so highly esteemed by Anglo- 

 Indians. 



It is quite common in our waters. I have seen many immature 

 specimens in purse-nets, but full grown specimens are often taken 

 in sunken basket-traps off Singapore in the neighliourhood of the 

 Karimon Islands. 



Day says " this fisli is highly esteemed as food whether fresh or 

 salted." It is curious that this fish which is a delicacy in India 

 should be disregarded in Malaya. Malays do not care much for 

 it, as the flesh is soft and flabby and they prefer firm and flaky 

 meat. 



The Belungkor {Satirida tiimbil) is known to Australians as 

 the Queensland Smelt and is a fair edible fisli, tliough somewhat 

 dry. 



The Mudin (Satirus myops) is a useful food fish. 



"MILLIONS." 



( CYriUNODONTIDAE. ) 



I have called these fishes '' Millions "' in the alisence of any 

 English name, because they belong to the tame family as the fish 

 known as " Millions " in Barbados. To this latter fish, w'hich 

 eats mosquito larvae, as our fish does, the immunity from fever, 

 which the inhabitants of Barbados enjoy, is attributed. It is a 

 tiny fish, very common in swamps and drains in Singapore and 

 elsewhere. 



cat fishes. 



(Silueidae:) 



This family whieli contains one fourth of the known fresh 

 water fishes of the world is not represented in the British Isles, but 

 in this region they are to be found wherever there is water and a 

 muddy bottom, whether it be fresh, brackish or salt water. 



Members of the family may be found in swamps, pools and 

 roadside drains and many of the fresh water varieties will make 

 considerable journeys overland to find new pools or streams. They 

 are found in all our rivers and some species may be caught miles 

 out in the sea. Some of the largest exceed 6 feet in length. 



With the exception of the LeIe and Lembat (Clakiid.\e spp.) 

 which have no spines, all the members of this family arc .armed 

 with spines. 



