20 MALAYAN FISHES. 



The Tapah has a pair of pectoral ppiiies only, but the Sem- 

 bilang, Patin, Lawang, Pedukang and Baung have both pec- 

 toral spines and a dorsal spine. 



A wound from tliese spines is extremely painful and the angler 

 wlio captures one of these fish for the first time is advised to take a 

 lesson from a Malay in the proper method of grasping them, which 

 is very simple but worth knowing. 



They are valuable food fishes and are in great demand among 

 all Malays, Chinese and natives of India. Some species are con- 

 sidered to possess exceptionally nourishing qualities and are pres- 

 cribed for patients recovering from illness. 



Tliey will live for hours out of water and can be transported 

 for long distances. 



The popularity of the Krian district of Perak among natives 

 of India is due primarily to the rice fields and secondly to the fact 

 that cat-fishes, as well as other fish, swarm in the rice fields and 

 irrigation ditches. 



A volume might he written on the Cat-fishes alone. One in- 

 teresting cliaracteristic is the great care they take of their eggs and 

 young. Tlie Pedukang, for instance, lays very few but very 

 large eggs which look like gelatine capsules and these they carry 

 about in their mouths. As the Pedukang are among the com- 

 monest estuarine fishes, any o1)server can olitain them during the 

 breeding season and see for himself the egg in every stage of 

 develo]3ment, and in the final stage, immediately before hatcliing. 

 the tiny fish is distinctly visible through the. translucent envelope 



of the egg. 



LOACHES AND CARP. 



(COBITIDAE c(- CYPBINIDAE.) 



Only InT) Txjaches, the Ikan pasir and the Lali, are mentioned 

 in this work, but judging from records of species in Java, Sumatra 

 and Borneo, tliere should be at least 20 species. 



Tlie Ikan pasir {Acanthopsis choir orhynch us) is (|uite com- 

 mon in the Pahang river and is good eating. 



Tlie Carp family of fresli water fishes to which our Eoach, 

 Tench and (-Judgeon belong is re])resented in our Malayan rivers 

 by certainly not less than lUl) species. 



Tlie very incomplete list in tlii.^ liook gives some 28 Malay 

 synonyms only. There is an interesting hobby and good sport 

 with a fly and spinner awaiting any planter or prospector who lives 

 near the ui^per reaches of any of the rivers in the Penin.-ula. An 

 oil drum can ea.sily lie converted into a specimen tank in which 

 rare fish may be preserved in spirit. The Directors of the F. M. S. 

 and S. S. Mu.^eums would be only too glad, I feel sure, to mount 

 and display specimens, and as the field is practically untouched the 

 collector has more than a sporting chance of discovering and per- 

 haps giving his name to a new s)3ecies. 



