1000 Catalogue of Malayan Fishes. [Oct. 



branous point of the opercle 2^ diameter. The openings of the nos- 

 trils are situated closely in front of the orbit. Between the centre of 

 the supraorbital margin and the muzzle appear three distant fossae ; on 

 the infraorbital bone two or three ; beneath the symphysis of the lower 

 jaw two pores, and behind them on each branch of the jaw two fossae. 

 The teeth are minute inwardly pointing, like those of a card ; in the 

 intermaxillaries they are placed 3 to 4 deep, but they become more 

 crowded beneath the symphysis, where those of the innermost series 

 are a little, yet perceptibly, longer than the rest. Such is also the 

 case with those of the symphysis of the lower jaw, but on the branches 

 they are placed in a single series, and are somewhat distant from each 

 other. The vomer is raised into an acute angular crest, surmounted 

 by a series of minute pointed teeth ; the palatal, pharyngeal and 

 those at the root of the flattened membranous tongue are very minute 

 velvety. The greatest vertical depth of the body, at the seventh dorsal 

 spine, is J of the length of the head. The lateral line consists of a 

 series of minute tubes, bifid at each extremity ; it follows on the upper 

 fourth of the side the arch of the back towards the termination of the 

 dorsal, where it is suddenly interrupted, but it reappears lower down, 

 and proceeds straight in the middle of the tail to the caudal. This 

 fish is as numerous in the Malayan Peninsula as in Bengal. It is of 

 voracious habits, preying upon small Cyprinoidce, and as observed by 

 Buchanan, is very tenacious of life. The longitudinal mark of the 

 scales, described and figured by Buchanan, does not exist in the living 

 fish, but appears after death. Buchanan Hamilton has correctly 

 described the teeth : " intermixed with these, in each jaw, are several 

 sharp teeth of a larger size." Such is the case in Bengal and Malayan 

 specimens. Those examined by M. M. Cuvier and Valenciennes ap- 

 pear to have been defective in this character, and they therefore 

 express some doubt about the identity of the species. As yet however, 

 no other species of Nandus has been discovered. They have corrected 

 the error of Buchanan in counting seven, instead of six branchioste- 

 gous rays. The figure of Bedula nebulosa, III. Ind. Zool. appears to 

 be intended to represent the present species, but whether the defect 

 is attributable to the original specimen, or to the copyist, is impossible 

 to ascertain. The figure of Bedula hamiltonii, is inferior to that of 

 Buchanan Hamilton, and the colours are those of a specimen pre- 

 served in spirits of wine. 



