1 849 .] Catalogue of Malayan Fishes. 1005 



the opposite one ; the other two pairs are vertical, the posterior being 

 the shorter. The scapular spines are small, but distinct ; the humeral 

 spine is very strong, triangular and longitudinally furrowed like a 

 bayonet ; its length is little less than \ of the pectoral fin, or equal 

 the upper margin of the opercle. The length of the pectorals equals 

 \ of the total ; the inferior eight rays are thicker than the rest. The 

 ventrals are less than \ of the total. The anterior dorsal is triangular, 

 its height less than \ of the vertical diameter of the body, which is 

 contained about A\ times in the total length. The posterior dorsal 

 commences with a short, thin spine, which so closely reclines towards 

 the back, that it easily may escape observation ; the first three rays are 

 undivided, gradually increasing in length ; the fourth is the longest, 

 about f of the vertical diameter of the body ; the fifth and sixth are 

 shorter ; the rest nearly equal about \ of the length of the fourth ray. 

 The rays of the anal fin are somewhat shorter, but not thicker than 

 those of the posterior dorsal. The precise shape of the fin could not 

 be ascertained, as it happened to be somewhat mutilated in the only 

 individual observed. The naked space behind the posterior dorsal and 

 that behind the anal, is a little more than T \ of the total length ; the 

 caudal is about -*-. The space on the back between the lateral lines is 

 covered with scales like those of the rest of the back, sides, and the 

 posterior half of the abdomen ; the anterior half of the latter and the 

 chest are apparently naked. Of the Asiatic species, described by M. 

 M. Cuvier and Valenciennes, the present nearest approaches U. mar- 

 moratus y which differs in colours, in the smaller humeral spine, in 

 having five preopercular teeth, the space between the lateral lines 

 naked, and the skull is shagreened but on the posterior part only. The 

 capacious, leathery stomach contained remains of minute Crustacea 

 and mud ; its length (4|- inch.) a little less than -J- of the total ; that 

 of the intestinal canal 4^ inch. There were eight csecopyloric appen- 

 dages. The gall-bladder excessively large, elongated, bottle shaped, 

 in length nearly equalling the stomach, transparent pale greenish. The 

 fishermen of Pinang asserted this species to be of very rare occurrence 

 and to grow but little larger. 



Gen. Sphyrjena, Artedi. 1738. 

 Body elongated with two separated dorsal fins, head oblong, with 

 the lower jaw projecting in a point beyond the upper ; some of the 



