1038 Catalogue of Malayan Fishes. [Oct. 



slightly exceeds the third in length, but in the young the two spines 

 are of equal length, and the lower margin of the preopercle is finely 

 toothed, of which all trace is obliterated in the adult. The blackish 

 margin of the caudal is very indistinct in the young, which bears a 

 strong resemblance to Catochaenum lucidum, (Cuv. and Val.) 



Young individuals of this species are exceedingly numerous at Pinang 

 at all seasons, and large quantities are dried. Large individuals are of 

 comparatively rare occurrence. 



Catochaenum filamentosum, (Cuv. and Val.) 



Russell LXVII. Woodawahah. 



Gerres filamentosus, Cuv. and Val. VI. 482. 



Gerres filamentosus, Bleeker : Verh. Bat. Gen. XXII., 4. 



Head above and back pale greenish grey, the rest of the body silvery 

 with lilac reflections ; above and following the lateral line two parallel 

 series of large oval blackish spots; below the lateral line one or two 

 straight series of similar, but smaller spots ; dorsal, caudal and anal fins 

 pale yellow ; the spines, rays and membranes of the dorsal and caudal 

 minutely dotted with brown ; the superior margin of the dorsal black ; 

 the posterior margin of the caudal pale blackish ; ventrals and pecto- 

 rals white. Iris pale golden. 



D 9/10, C 1/f, A 3/7, V 1/5, P 15, Br. VI. 



Habit. — Sea of Pinang. 



Madura, Vanikolo, New Guinea, Java, Coromandel. 



Total length : 7f inch. 



The length of the second dorsal spine appears to vary : in an adult 

 and a few young, it but slightly exceeded the vertical diameter of the 

 body, and did not reach the caudal fin, as described by M. M. Cuvier 

 and Valenciennes. The young ones have no series of blackish spots, 

 which vanish soon after death ; in the smallest examined, 4f inches in 

 length, the margin of the preopercle was not toothed. This species 

 but rarely visits Pinang. 



FAM. SCLENOIDjE. 



Sub — Gen. Otolithus, Cuvier 1829. 



Head gibbous, supported by cavernous bones ; preopercle toothed or 



crenulate ; bony opercle terminating in one or two flat points ; dorsal 



fins two, or one deeply emarginated, the soft part of which longer than 



