MALAYAN PISHES. 53 



The Pari dedap {Urogymnus asperrimus) is the sole repre- 

 sentative of a genus and remarkal4e from the fact that its back is 

 covered, with osseous tubercles, among which are studded, at inter- 

 vals, a number of conical denticles or spines rather like limpets in 

 appearance. 



This fish ranges between the Eed Sea, East Coast of Africa, 

 seas of India and the Malay Archipelago. 



I recently overheard a Malay in the EafHes Museum apply the 

 name Deredap to this fish and pcrha))s a note on the word Dedap 

 and its derivatives may be of interest. 



Dedap — a tree (Eri/tJirinits f^p.) with scarlet flowers, the l3ark 

 of which is studded with spines of the same limpet-like shape as 

 thoi-e of the Pari dedap. 



Dedap — a shield or buckler. 



Redap — a small drum, (probably so called from the kind of 

 skin used). 



Meredap — (Eiau, .Johor) springing up plentifully, of prickly 

 heat and other skin eruptions, the feature of which is a large ]ium- 

 ber of pustules. 



The word dedap as meaning a shield is obsolete both in collo- 

 quial Malay and in literature and it is interesting to note that its 

 place has been taken l^y the Indian word Pcrisai. 



EAGLE-RAYS. 



(MYLIOBATIDAE.) 



This family contains five genera and about 27 species. All 

 five genera are represented in Malayan seas. 



These fish feed principally on Molluscs, the shells of which 

 they grind with their large grincling-teeth. Some of them attain 

 an enormous size, over 20 feet in width, a thickness of 3 to 4 feet 

 and a weight, probably, of over a ton. 



They are variously known as Devil-fishes, Sea-devils, Bat- 

 fishes, Eagle-rays, etc., and it is interesting to note that the terms 

 Bat and Eagle are taken from the Malay, viz. Pari kelawar and 

 Pari lang. 



The largest of this family are the Pari paus {Dicerobatis spp. 

 and Ceratoptera spp.). 



I liave seen these fish leap out of the sea to a height of perhaps 

 7 or 8 feet, time after time, coming down each time with a tre- 

 mendous splash, and Malays have told me that the fish does this to 

 shake off the remora which bang on to them in large numljers. 



In conclusion I may add, that all the Bays and Skates are eaten 

 by natives of tlie East, while the "wings" or fins are highly esteemed 

 by the Chinese. Fishes of this order would form a considerable 

 proportion of the catches of a trawler and would ])rovide a cheap 

 and valuable food, for which there is a constant demand, either 

 fresh or salted. 



