1849.] Catalogue of Malayan Fishes, 1067 



back is slightly arched, the highest part being at the dorsal spine ; 

 the abdominal profile is less arched than the former. The length of the 

 head is J, or slightly more, of the length of the body, the caudal not 

 included ; the depth at the occiput § of the length of the head. The 

 eyes are prominent, occupying the second fourth, and bordering on the 

 profile. Their distance across the forehead is nearly double the dia- 

 meter. The mouth is semicircular, moderate ; the angle is in front of 

 the orbit. The posterior opening of the nostrils is situated close to 

 the orbit ; the anterior is provided with a small fleshy tube. The 

 tongue is free, fleshy and very pointed. Behind the velvety teeth of 

 the upper jaw appear successively three semicircular membranous folds, 

 of which the posterior is papillular on the margin, which thus appears 

 as if studded with a second series of minute teeth. The head is every- 

 where covered with large rounded scales like the rest of the body, but 

 the slightly protractile jaws are naked ; the posterior part of each 

 branch of the lower jaw is covered by a single large oval scale. The 

 greatest vertical diameter of the body, at the dorsal spine, is in some 

 individuals f of, in others equal the length of the head. The vertical 

 diameter at the root of the caudal fin varies from 5^- to £ of the length 

 of the body. The dorsal fin commences a little behind the posterior 

 half of the body ; the rays gradually increase towards the fifth, the 

 longest ; the extent of the base is from \ to \. of the length of the 

 body ; the distance from the last ray to the caudal is \ of the length 

 of the body. The caudal is very broad lanceolate ; the two central 

 rays are the longest, in some individuals J of the entire length of the 

 fish, but frequently less. The length of the anterior filamentous ventral 

 ray rarely exceeds that of the head. The pectorals are rounded, their 

 length but slightly exceeds J of the head. Opposite their posterior half 

 is situated the anus, immediately behind which the anal fin commences. 

 The rays of the latter gradually increase in length to the twenty-third or 

 fourth, which are sometimes elongated beyond the point of the caudal fin. 

 The extent of the scaly base of the anal equals J of the length of the bo- 

 dy. No lateral line appears, but on the series it would occupy if present, 

 some of the anterior scales have each a central rounded depression, 

 which, however, also appears on single scales nearer the back. Three 

 series lower down, on the posterior half of the sides, commences some- 

 times a row of similar depressions, which then continue to the caudal 



