1010 Catalogue of Malayan Fishes. [Oct. 



Coast and estuaries of Coromandel, Japan, Polynesia, 

 Batavia, Samarang, Surabaya, Sampang, Madura. 



Total length, 1 foot : 



The length of the head is J of that of the body, measured from the 

 muzzle to the centre of the caudal margin ; but in the length taken 

 from the muzzle to the centre of a vertical line cutting the lobes of the 

 caudal, that of the head is contained 4^ or five times, according to the 

 individually varying length of the caudal fin. The horizontal diameter 

 of the eye is contained 3| times in the length of the head. The preopercle 

 is more finely toothed than it is in P. tetradactylus : the lowest tooth 

 is longer than the rest. The anterior dorsal fin commences opposite 

 the posterior extremity of the opercle, the extent of the base being § 

 of the length of the third spine. The posterior dorsal commences a 

 little in front of the anal, the extent of its base equalling the length of 

 the third dorsal spine. The distance between the two fins exceeds by 

 \ the extent of the base of the anterior dorsal, while it is but little less 

 than the extent of the base of posterior dorsal. The two or three pos- 

 terior filaments are longer than the pectoral fin. The lateral line is 

 nearly straight towards the root of the caudal, over which it extends in 

 a downward slightly oblique direction to a little beneath the cleft. 

 The caudal fin is more or less deeply cleft, the upper lobe in some 

 individuals is longer than the lower ; both are pointed, but neither ter- 

 minates in a filament. In a fresh state no longitudinal dark lines 

 appear on the body, but in the young three or four of the scales of the 

 lateral line near its origin, are densely dotted with black, so as to ap- 

 pear like a blackish serrated spot. The individuals observed at Pi- 

 nang differ from the description of P. plebeius by M. M. Cuvier and 

 Valenciennes in having three or four pectoral rays less, and three anal 

 spines instead of two, but the first of the three is so short, and so hid 

 by the scales, that it easily may escape observation. In other external 

 characters there is no difference, and they also agree in presenting a 

 great number of ccecopyloric appendages, and in having an elongated 

 narrow airvessel, without appendages. At Pinang this species is of 

 rare occurrence, and of the few observed, the largest measured but one 

 foot in length. Its value as a fish yielding isinglass requires to be 

 ascertained in localities which it frequents, and where it attains its full 

 size : 4 ft. 



