1058 Catalogue of Malayan Fishes. [Oct. 



Total length : 5 inch. 



Two individuals together were observed in 1845 at Pinang, where 

 the fishermen asserted the species to be very seldom seen, and never of 

 larger size. 



Pristipoma auritum, Cuv. and Val. 

 Pristipoma auritum, Cuv. and Val. V. 263. 



Upper part of the muzzle dark brown, of the rest of the head the 

 upper half of the opercle and of the lax gill-membrane and the cheeks 

 light brownish grey with silvery reflections ; preopercle, lower half of 

 opercle and of the gill-membrane silvery yellowish-white, minutely 

 dotted with brown ; back and upper part of the sides light greyish 

 green, lower part of the latter and abdomen yellowish white ; the 

 scales of the occiput and upper half of the body with a reddish brown 

 spot at the root, reflecting lilac and forming irregular series or longitu- 

 dinal lines ; the scales of the lower half of the sides silvery at the root, 

 and minutely dotted with brown ; fin-membranes whitish transparent, 

 minutely dotted with brown, rays yellowish white ; between the dorsal 

 spines numerous reddish brown round or elongated spots, forming 

 from 3 to 6 oblique series ; the margin of the membrane black ; between 

 the dorsal rays some rounded smaller spots, forming 4 transversal lines. 

 Iris golden. 



D 12/14, C 17f, A 3/7 or 8, V 1/5, P 17, Br. VII. 



Habit. — Sea of Pinang. 

 Siam. 



Total length : 1 foot 8f inch. 



The eye occupies the third seventh of the length of the head when 

 the muzzle is protracted ; the length of the opercle is little less than 

 one half of that of the head ; it is convex and projects backwards 

 above the anterior half of the pectoral ; the mouth is comparatively 

 very small with few teeth ; the external series under the symphysis of 

 the upper jaw is a little stronger than the rest ; those few in the lower 

 jaw nearest the angle of the mouth are the largest, nearly conical. The 

 length of the second anal spine equals that of the fourth dorsal, the 

 longest, and it is nearly f of the vertical diameter of the body imme- 

 diately above it. The anterior surface of all the spines is longitudinally 

 furrowed. The caudal fin is covered almost throughout with minute 

 rough scales, so as entirely to hide the short accessory rays ; the mem- 



