1128 Catalogue of Malayan Fishes, [Nov. 



far back, and is excessively thin, membranous, supported by four or five 

 backwards radiating rays, the points of which are exposed. In those, 

 supposed by Cuvier to be males, projects immediately behind the occi- 

 put a horn-like, compressed process, broad at the base, somewhat atte- 

 nuated, but truncated at the apex. It is arched, placed horizontally, 

 with the apex bent downwards. On the upper margin, close to the 

 apex appear four minute spines. The two first dorsal spiny processes 

 immediately behind the horn-like one, are very minute, triangular, with 

 the point directed backwards ; the third is truncated with a minute spine 

 in front and behind ; the fourth is much larger and consists of a forwards 

 directed spine ; the succeeding four spines gradually increase and are 

 all directed backwards. The dorsal fin is preceded by two spines of 

 which the anterior is \ of the second, which again is \ of the length of 

 the first ray. The greatest vertical diameter of the body, in front of the 

 first dorsal ray, is \ of the total length. Each of the broad, excavated 

 ribs, from the third to the fifteenth vertebra, serves to form a conical, 

 funnel-shaped cavity, very pointed towards the tail. The broad truncated 

 lower extremity of each rib is striated, so as to appear as if fringed. 

 The stomach is a rounded, rather capacious sac, generally expanded by 

 remains of Crustacea ; the liver is small, divided in two lobes ; the 

 gall bladder and the spleen excessively minute. The narrow intestinal 

 canal forms two circumvolutions : its length is about \ of the length 

 of the fish. In the Straits of Malacca and the Bay of Bengal 

 as far as the mouths of the Ganges, it is excessively numerous at all 

 seasons. Individuals with the horn-like process are far less numerous 

 than those without it. Large quantities are dried, and consumed by 

 the natives of India. Plate 277 of Cuvier and Valenciennes represents 

 the fish much too red. 



Gen. Equula, Cuvier 1817. 



Body compressed ; dorsal undivided ; snout greatly protractile ; 

 edges of back and abdomen dentated along the fins. 



Equula caballa, Cuv. and Val. 

 Scomber equula, Forskal, Faun. Arab, 58, No. 77. 

 Centrogaster equula, Linne : Syst. 1337. 

 Caesio poulain, Lacep. III. 90. 

 Russell LXII. Tottah Karah 1 



