MSQ Catalogue of Malayan Fishes, [Nov. 



tical, the angle of the mouth opposite the anterior part of the orbit ; 

 the lower jaw scarcely longer than the upper ; the teeth minute, 

 velvety, the external and internal series of both jaws distant, somewhat 

 longer than the rest ; the tongue small, flattened, rounded in front ; the 

 eye oval, comparatively larger than in E. butis, occupying the second 

 fourth of the head ; the distance between both is about one vertical 

 diameter. The upper margin of the orbit forms a sharp arched crest, 

 armed with minute, close, forwards pointing spines ; the crest itself 

 is continued obliquely downwards, but becomes spineless in front of 

 the orbit, and there it separates the rostral cavity in which the two nos- 

 trils open, from a short crescent-shaped cavity, immediately below the 

 anterior angle of the orbit. Along the upper margin of the somewhat 

 pointed preopercle proceeds a short, but rather deep, horizontal sulcus, 

 which farther follows the tract behind the supraorbital spinous crest. 

 The greatest vertical diameter of the body, at the commencement of 

 the anterior dorsal fin, is a little less than the length of the head. The 

 scales of the opercles, cheeks and the nape are a little smaller than 

 those of the body, which are a little broader than long. The longitu- 

 dinal series from the root of the pectorals to the caudal contains about 

 34 scales. The length of the pectoral fins equals that of the head ; 

 the other fins, as well as the genital papilla in shape and proportions 

 resemble those organs of E, butis. The similarity of colours and their 

 distribution is so striking in both species, that they might be mistaken, 

 but for the supraorbital spinous crest, the sulcated, and comparatively 

 shorter head of E. caperatus. Two individuals were observed at 

 Pinang, taken together in stakes with other fishes. 



SUBFAM. ECHENEIDIN.E. 



Gen. Echeneis, ([Artedi,] Linne 1748J, Cuvier 1817. 



With a flattened disk on the head, composed of a certain number of 

 transversal laminae, directed obliquely backwards, dentated or spiny on 

 their posterior margin, and moveable so that by creating a vacuum 

 between them, or by hooking on by the spines, they are capable of 

 attaching themselves to various bodies, such as rocks, ships, fishes, &c. 

 Body elongated, covered with minute scales ; a single soft dorsal oppo- 

 site to the anal ; head perfectly flat above ; eyes lateral ; mouth hori- 

 zontally cleft, rounded ; lower jaw projecting and as well as the inter- 



