MALAYAN FISHES. 37 



All these fishes are small, rarely exceeding 10 inches in length. 

 Very little is known regarding their habits or distribution and they 

 are not at present of rQuch economic importance. 



I have taken a few in a trawl near Penang and there is a pos- 

 sibility that with new methods of fishing they may become useful 

 market fish. 



Eed Mullet are known to visit the British coasts, in vast slioals, 

 at rare intervals. 



BAT-FISHES. 



{SCOBPIDIDAE.) 



As far as I know, these fish are represented in our waters by 

 the genus Psettus only. 



The Qedabang or Nyior-nyior (P. argenteus) is known in 

 Australia as the Silvery Bat-fish. It attains a length of about 

 eight or nine inches only and its breadth is about equal to its length. 

 It is common and of fairly good edible quality Init is not, at present, 

 of importance. 



The Nyior-nyior (P. falciformis) is also a small fish attain- 

 ing a length of perhaps 9 or 10 iuclies. 



CORAL FISHES. 



( CHAETODOXTIDA E. ) 



A large group of a1)0ut 200 species of marine carnivorous 

 fishes, confined to the Tropics, mostly of small size and remarkaiale 

 for their singular forms and markings and brilliant colours. 



They are particularly abundant about volcanic rocks and coral 

 reefs; but some ascend estuaries and tidal rivers, though not to any 

 great distance. 



The Ketang (Ephippiis argus) ranges from the Indian Ocean 

 to China and Australia, attaining a foot in lengtli. If taken in the 

 sea or in clean back-waters it is an excellent edible fith, but those 

 captured in the vicinity of polluted rivers should be avoided, as 

 there is evidence that they are foul feeders. 



Hamilton Buchanan remarks of it, " WTien newly caught it is 

 a fi h of great beauty, easy digestion, and excellent flavour: but 

 after death it soon becomes soft and strong tasting." In Ceylon 

 " It is generally esteemed, its flesh partaking the flavour of trout " 

 (Bennett). 



This fish and its congener [E. muUifa.iciaiiis) are favourably 

 known in Australia as Butter-fish and are a common table fish in 

 hotels and restaurants. 



Ikan inggu or Ikan babi are Malay eijuivalents for the genus 

 Holacanthus. The former term applying to the colouration and 

 the latter to the rather pig-like profile and the ]3resence, in all 

 these fishes, of a pair of pre-opercular spines directed backwards, 

 which are considered to resemble boar's tu^ks. 



