1849.] Catalogue of Malayan Fishes. 1041 



meter taken in front of the dorsal fin is G^ of the total length. The 

 dorsal spines are very slender ; the third is the longest, equalling about 

 \ of the vertical diameter ; the rest gradually decrease towards the 

 ninth, but the last spine is longer, nearly \ of the third. The caudal 

 fin is rhomboidal very pointed, its length from G£ to 7\ of the total. 

 The pectorals are very pointed 5f to 6^ of the total. The ventrals 

 and the anal are equal \ of the length of the head. The second anal 

 spine is scarcely one half of the length of the rays, very attenuated, and 

 not striated. The scales of the body are moderate, deciduous ; the 

 lateral line is very distinct and proceeds obliquely downwards to the 

 very point of the caudal. The air-vessel is nearly one half of the total 

 length, narrow, tapering backwards to a fine point. On each side of 

 the latter commences a narrow tape-like process, which continuing along 

 each side, deviates at a little distance from the fundus of the air-vessel, 

 which it again joins. The organ might be compared with an elongated 

 antique urn with two handles. From the anterior part of each of the 

 latter proceed five branches, the four of which give off smaller ones to 

 each side, and the fifth is tortuous and larger than the rest. This organ 

 strongly resembles that of O. pama, (Cuv. and Val. V. PI. 138,) yet it 

 presents differences more easily perceived by comparison than described. 



This species approaches to O. senegalensis, Cuv. and Val. and to 

 O. pama, from which latter it, however, differs in its more elongated 

 form, particularly of the head, and in having much fewer rnys in the 

 dorsal fin. 0. reevesii, Richardson, (Rep. 1845, 224,) differs in having 

 10 — 1/31 in the dorsal fin, the preopercle spinously toothed on the 

 upper limb and rounded corner, where the teeth are large, and in having 

 the second anal spine stout and finely striated. Single individuals occur 

 at Pinang at all seasons, but numbers from June to August. Al- 

 though, not much esteemed by Europeans, this fish is consumed by the 

 natives both fresh and dried. It yields a large quantity of isinglass, 

 which in the Chinese market is considered to be of the best quality, 

 and fetches 40 to 45 Spanish Dollars per Pikul. 



Otolithus ruber, (Bloch-Schneider.) 



Johnius ruber, Bloch-Schn. 75, No. 3, PI. J 7. 



from young specimens, in which the canines are less developed than in the adult, 

 in which they appear as strong and conspicuous as in several species of Otolithus. 

 The form of the airvessel is not exclusively characteristic of pama. 



6 s 2 



