MALAYAN FISHES. 31 



BLOW-PIPE FISHES. 



{TOXOTIDAE.) 



The Ikan sumpit or Sumpit-sumpit {Suinpifaii, a lilow- 

 pipe) is so named from its method, unique among fishes, of slioot- 

 ing water from its moutli at in:ects which it perceives close to the 

 surface. 



They are verv common estuary fislies congregating under 

 ]3ier.-, fallen trees and branches, where they may be both seeu and 

 heard (^pitting at flies and similar small game, Avliich tliey loiock 

 down with surprising accuracy. 



In the second edition of Day's Fishes, this shooting habit is 

 ■erroneou.?ly attrilmted to anotlier fish, Chelino rostraius, which is 

 also known to the Malays as Ikan sumpit, and a note under Toxo- 

 tes reads, " It is stated in some works that these wide mouthed 



fishes shoot insects with a drop of water The action is one 



which the niontlis of tliese fishes appear incapa))le of effecting." 



There is ample evidence, however, to prove that Toxofes do 

 shoot, and though their mouths are large it will be noticed that they 

 have the projecting lower jaw of the true cuspidore artist. 



Chelmo roslmlns. on the other hand, though' it has pipe-like 

 projecting jaws. \f a fish which is found at sea in the neighbourhood 

 ■of coral reefs where flies and insects must be rare. 



It owes it; name "Sumpit-sumpit" to the fact that, after 

 ■ca]_)ture, it spurts water through its mouth. 



Toxo tes cli/i tare lis grows to a length of ahout one foot and I 

 have taken several with a rod when fishing with prawn bait for 

 Siakap, between half and three quarters of a pound. They are 

 quite good eating. 



FRESH-WATER PERCHES. 



(NAXDIDAE.) 



I have no information regarding the Kepau or Patong (Ciito- 

 pra fasciata) ivhich is the sole member of this family recorded in 

 •.our waters under a Malay name. 



SEA-PERCHES. 



(SERRAXIDAE.) 



The ver}' incomplete list in this book gives some 45 S]5ecies of 

 Sea-perches. The family is a very large and most important one, 

 containing as it does, not only some of our largest fish but also 

 many of our best edible fish including the Ikan merah. Xearly 

 all the members of this family are oaruivorous fishes which take a 

 bait readily. 



I propose to mention only a few of the most important ones. 



