1214 Catalogue of Malayan Fishes. [Nov. 



total length. It contains 45 series of scales. For the size of the 

 fish the latter are rather small, elongated oval, with about 2 1 radiating 

 lines at the radical part, and 13 spines at the posterior margin, which 

 is rough to the touch. A straight line between the opercle and the 

 caudal contains about 117. The lateral line and its ramifications 

 resemble P. bilineata. The distance between the muzzle and the first 

 dorsal ray, and that between the first ventral and anal ray equal £ of 

 that between the muzzle and upper eye. The length of the caudal 

 varies from 2\ to \ of the length of the head. There is but a single 

 ventral, on the left side, connected by a membrane to the anal. But 

 for the absence of the ventral fin, the figure marked Plagusia abbre- 

 viata in Illustrations of Indian Zoology, II. PI. 94, Fig. 3, might be 

 supposed to represent the present species. Individuals, although never 

 in great numbers, occur at all seasons at Pinang, and are highly valued 

 for their flavour. 



Plagusia grandisqtjamis, Cantor. 



Left side. Pale reddish brown ; scales with metallic iridescent 

 reflections, a central dark longitudinal line, and the posterior margin 

 buff; opercle and abdominal cavity bluish black; from above the 

 opercle closely beneath the base of the dorsal a black band, gradually 

 narrowing towards the caudal ; from a little behind the abdominal 

 cavity immediately above the base of the anal a similar black band 

 joining the former at the root of the caudal ; dorsal and anal pale 

 brownish transparent, minutely dotted with black ; caudal black, ven- 

 trals white. Iris annular golden, rest minutely dotted with black. 



Right side. Brownish white ; opercle and abdominal cavity bluish 

 black. 



D 116, 



C 10, V 4, P 0, Br. VI. 



k JB8, 

 214 



Habit. — Sea of Pinang. 



Total length : 7f inch. 



Left side. The general form is narrow, elongated lanceolate, resem- 

 bling Plagusia lingva, (Buchanan Hamilton.) 



