1194 Catalogue of Malayan Fishes. [Nov. 



The length of the head is ^ of the length of the hody, measured 

 from the symphysis of the lower jaw to the point of the caudal fin. 

 The tubular mouth, to the anterior margin of the orbit, is 2f times 

 longer than the rest of the head. The horizontal diameter of the eye 

 is 9£ in the length of the head ; the distance of the eyes across the 

 forehead is % of the diameter ; the narrow forehead is widened by a 

 transparent membrane extending along the upper margin of the orbit, 

 and giving it an elongated oval shape. From the sides of the occiput 

 proceeds a sharp crest of minute spines to the preopercle ; the posterior 

 and anterior part of the orbit are finely toothed, and the latter part has 

 a short broad spine above and below. On each side of the tubular 

 mouth, appears a sharp ridge, the posterior half of which is armed 

 with small forwards directed spines. The lower jaw is longer than the 

 upper, with a round protuberance at the symphysis. Both jaws have 

 a single series of small, somewhat unequal, reclining teeth. A similar 

 single series appears on each of the palatals, and from four to six on 

 the anterior part of the vomer. Between the intermaxillary series of 

 teeth and those of the vomer is extended a small crescent-shaped mem- 

 brane. From the centre of the opercle proceed downwards two strong 

 striae and numerous finer ones radiate backwards. From the posterior 

 part of the orbit radiate a number of lines backwards. Immediately 

 behind the occiput commence a pair of elongated lanceolate bony plates, 

 each contained about 5^ times in the length of the body, forming in the 

 middle of the back a slightly raised line. Behind the pectoral fins ap- 

 pears a shorter lanceolate bony plate, the upper margin of which joins 

 the former pair of the back ; the lower joins a larger also lanceolate plate, 

 which on each side covers the anterior part of the abdomen. The latter 

 pair of abdominal plates are turned up at the sides at a right angle ; their 

 lower surface is honeycombed and the anterior half of their lower 

 margin leaves a central open space on the abdominal surface. The 

 length of the pair of abdominal plates is ^ of the dorsal. The length 

 of the pectoral fins and the lobes of the caudal equal tjie horizontal 

 diameter of the eye. The vertical diameter at occiput, as well as the 

 greatest diameter of the body, is f of the horizontal diameter of the 

 eye. The breadth across the occiput equals the latter diameter. A 

 vertical section of the head is broad rectangular ; one of the anterior 

 part of the body, in front of the dorsal, is nearly triangular ; behind the 



