1849.] Catalogue of Malayan Fishes. 1079 



the rounded, truncated apex downwards; the latter, as well as the 

 backwards arched anterior margin, is finely but distinctly toothed, and 

 naked, but the rest of the external surface is covered with small scales, 

 The adipose membrane covering the circumference of the eye is of a 

 whitish grey. No such series of pores appear on the lower half of 

 the membrane, as M. Riippell has observed in Mugil our, Forskai 

 (not apud Cuvier and Val.), nor are there any pores under the lower 

 jaw. The lower half of the posterior margin of the preopercle has 

 two large, a little obliquely upwards-directed indentations, and in some 

 the upper half of the margin has two similar ones. M. our as well as 

 M. cepkalus are according to M. Riippell distinguished by six pores 

 beneath the lower jaw, and by three not very distinct oblique inden- 

 tations in the lower margin of the preoperculum. The mouth is 

 horizontal, the angle is opposite the anterior opening of the nostril ; the 

 upper jaw projects beyond the lower. The upper mandible is flattened, 

 broad in the centre, tapering towards the angles of the mouth ; in the 

 centre is a very small notch. In the upper lip appears a single series 

 of very minute teeth. The symphysis of the lower jaw forms a 

 tubercle under which appears a notch deeper than that of the centre 

 of the upper mandible. The lower lip is more fleshy than the upper, 

 and the margin is bent downwards, so as to form on each side a furrow 

 proceeding from the notch under the symphysis to the angle of the 

 mouth. The teeth of the lower jaw are so excessively minute, few, 

 and distant, that even in large individuals they are imperceptible to the 

 touch, and can only be seen through a lens. In smaller individuals 

 these teeth are absent, or at least confined within the half transparent 

 mandibles, and appear like short seta, bent with the lip, but not project- 

 ing beyond it. The tongue is fleshy, broad at the root, narrower, round- 

 ed at the apex, and raised in a keel in the centre. Along the margin 

 which is fixed to the floor of the mouth, appears a series of rounded or 

 oval patches of velvety teeth. At the root of the central keel is an elon- 

 gated patch, and close behind the apex two smaller ones of velvety teeth. 

 On each side of the vomer is raised into a tubercle, carrying a transverse- 

 ly placed linear patch of similar teeth. Every part of the head is co- 

 vered with scales, of which those of the opercle are very large, but in 

 young individuals they are so thin as to make the silvery opercle appear 

 scaleless. The vertical diameter in front of the anterior dorsal spine 



6 z 



