1849.] Catalogue of Malayan Fishes. 12p5 



head. From the anterior angle of the upper orbit proceeds a short 

 bony ridge which terminates close to the muzzle in a flat rounded 

 point, which with the muzzle produces a short furrow. The 

 lower orbit is situated immediately above the angle of the mouth, a 

 little posterior to the upper one, and in a different position. The 

 greatest diameter is oblique, downwards and backwards, scarcely shorter 

 than that of the upper orbit. The distance between the anterior 

 angles of both orbits equals their greatest diameter. The posterior 

 aperture of the nostril is a little in front of the lower orbit ; the 

 anterior is a little farther in front, tubular or pierced through a 

 small papilla. The lower right lip is fleshy with numerous pointed 

 papillae. The tongue is minute, linear, smooth. The teeth resem- 

 ble those of Solea humilis. All the scales of the head, below the 

 level of the upper eye are a little larger than those of the body ; 

 above that level, towards the origin of the lateral line, they are nearly 

 double the size, and by far the greatest of all. The form of all is 

 nearly rectangular, with the posterior margin rounded, with 8 or 9 fine 

 spines, which make the scales rough to the touch. At the radical 

 part appear 3 or 4 radiating lines. The greatest vertical diameter of 

 the body, at the commencement of the second third of the back, is ^ 

 of the total length. This diameter contains about 71 series of scales. 

 The lateral line commences behind the upper part of the opercle and 

 proceeds straight, a little nearer the back than the abdomen, to the 

 caudal. It consists of about 167 minute central tubes. The first 

 dorsal ray commences close to the muzzle, a little below the level of 

 the anterior margin of the upper orbit. The rays, of which the first 

 four are undivided, gradually increase in length to the last which is \ 

 of the length of the head. The caudal is elongated, terminating in a 

 rounded point, f of the length of the head. The anal, all the rays of 

 which are divided, commences beneath the posterior part of the inter- 

 opercle, between the two ventrals. The basal half of all three vertical 

 fins are covered with minute scales, and the points of the rays project 

 a little beyond the membrane. They are so closely connected, that 

 the milk white outer margin is uninterrupted, and the shape of the fish 

 resembles a broad point of a lance. The length of the pectorals is \ 

 of the head. The ventrals are situated immediately in front of the 

 anal, but on a little higher level ; their length equals the pectorals. On 



