MALAYAN FISHES. 49 



"STAR-GAZERS." 



{LEPTOSCOPIDAE.) 

 Information is wanting, but, I think the Pukul gendang 

 ■{Percis pulchella) is rare and economieal'l}- unimportant. 



SPINY-EELS. 



(2IASTACEMBELTDAE.) 



These are eel-shaped carnivorous fishes, very common througli- 

 ■out Malaya where they are known by the generic term Tilan. 

 The largest species reach a length of three feet and the tiesh of all 

 species is of excellent quality. They are found far inland and often 

 at considerable elevations. 



Day states, " Excellent as food, although owing to their resem- 

 blance to eels (in fact they are eels with spines) or snakes, some 

 peo)3le ol)ject to them." Bucliaiiau ob.-crves, " sought after by the 

 natives, the highest of whom in Bengal make no scru]ile of eating 

 them : and by Europeans they are esteemed the Ix-'St of the eel-kind."' 



FROQ-FISHES. 



(BATRACHIDAE.) 



These carnivorous fislies apparently delight in mud and dirty 

 water ; they frequent the shores, ascending tidal rivers and estuaries. 

 At Penang " the natives attribute poisonous qualities to these fishes, 

 .and reject tbem even as manure'" (Cantor). 



ANGLER-FISHES AND "CROAKERS." 



(AATENNARIIDAE & MALTHIDAE.) 



Tho^e tislies have no economic value. 



LEATHER-JACKETS. 



(TEJAi'AXTrilDAE AXD EALISTIDAE.) 



Tliese two families may be conveniently taken together in this 

 small work as there is a strong atfinity between them. 



Though containing many species of no economic value one 

 species, tlie Jebong {Balistes stellatus) , is preferred to all other 

 fish by many Malays, including fisbermeu, whom I have questioned, 

 I think that the main reason for this preference is that the ilesh 

 of this fish more nearly resembles that of a chicken than any other 

 fish, and couse(|uently the change to what ap)n-oximates to a meat 

 diet is welcomed. 



Tlie Jebong has a tough leathery skin which has to be re- 

 moved before it is cooked. Tlie cook should not be allowed to re- 

 move the head which is the best ijart of this fish, and of many 

 ■others, especially perhaps the Tenggiri. 



L?ftther-jacket? are held in considerable esteem in Australia a? 

 food fish and are commonly served in hotels and restaurants. 



