1 84 9 .] Catalogue of Malayan Fishes. 1195 



dorsal it is rhombic. The dorsal and anal fins commence opposite 

 each other at the posterior fourth of the distance from the anterior part 

 of the orbit to the point of the caudal lobes. The lateral line com- 

 mences above the opercle ; the anterior part, occupying the dorsal 

 plates, is arched with the convexity towards the centre of the back, so 

 that the lines of both sides describe the figure of an elongated hour- 

 glass. At the termination of the lateral pair of bony plates the lateral 

 line commences, following the centre of the side, above the bluish white 

 line. The lateral line consists of a number of a linear tubes, deeply 

 cleft at both ends ; behind the dorsal fin the tubes change to very 

 short, sharp bony ridges, which to the touch appear like spines. The 

 ventral fins are very short situated in the centre between the muzzle 

 and the point of the caudal lobes. The length of the elongated central 

 caudal ray appears to be proportionally longer in the very young indi- 

 viduals ; in the largest it was divided in two. Four individuals were 

 observed at different seasons at Pinang ;* they were examined some- 

 time after death, and none of them exhibited the lateral series of blue 

 spots noted by Dr. Ruppell. 



ORDO ANACANTHINI. 



FAM. PLEURONECTISID.E. 

 Gen. Platessa, Cuvier, 1817. 

 In each jaw a series of trenchant, obtuse teeth ; frequently on the 

 pharyngeals teeth like paving-stones ; dorsal extending in front to above 

 the upper eye, leaving, as well as the anal, a naked interval between 

 themselves and the caudal ; shape rhomboidal ; most species have the 

 eyes on the rightf side ; two or three small cceca. 



Eyes and colour on the left side. 



* Another species of the present family : Amphisyle scutata, Klein, was observ- 

 ed in great numbers at Singapore in May 1840. From 1842 to 1845 none occur- 

 red at Pinang, nor were the fishermen there acquainted with the fish. 



f The terms right and left, or deoctral and sinistral are applied to the species 

 of this family, as to those of every other, while the fish is placed with the tail to- 

 wards the observer, the dorsal fin upwards, and the anal downwards. 



