1849.] Catalogue of Malayan Fishes, 1227 



rior ones ; the abdominal crest is distinct, particularly on the posterior 

 fifth of the body ; the margin of the tongue is studded with two or 

 three series of minute polygonal bony plates, placed beside each other 

 like mosaick ; the black spots of the opercles and caudal are no 

 longer visible. In an individual, 2 ft. 3 inches in length, the length of 

 the head is 3^ in the total ; the vertical diameter at occiput is i of the 

 head ; the horizontal diameter of the eye is -A- of the length of the 

 head from the symphysis of the lower mandible, and 3^ in the distance 

 measured from the anterior margin of the orbit j the distance across 

 the forehead exceeds by ^ the diameter ; the posterior dorsal rays, 

 although somewhat elongated, are but \ the length of the second ray.* 

 Immediately in front of the caudal the abdominal crest is very sharp, but 

 becomes less so at its termination on the anterior third of the caudal. 

 The hyoid bone and the tongue are entirely covered with a mosaick 

 of small polygonal rough bony plates. The internal surface of the 

 lower mandible presents a structure, which if present in other species, 

 has not been described. The middle where the two branches join each 

 other, is raised and forms a bony ridge, commencing behind the sym- 

 physis and gradually widening towards its termination in front of the 

 apex of the tongue. The upper surface of this ridge is flattened, but 

 made uneven by numerous transversal sharp bars, or rather by one 

 continued closely waved bar, forming a kind of grate. The ridge is 

 separated from the teeth by a deep groove, intervening on each side, 

 and is covered by the fine membrane lining the rest of the cavity. In 

 the young it differs by having a comparatively smaller number of 

 transversal bars. The corresponding surface of the upper mandible is 

 smooth, with a longitudinal fissure. In the adult fish the two anterior 

 branchiostegous rays are so very minute, that they may easily escape 

 observation ; in young ones they appear to be absent. At Pinang this 

 species is numerous at all seasons, but large individuals are scarce. In 

 several examined, both of the present and the following species, the 

 stomach contained nothing but thick mucus. The fish is eaten by the 

 natives, although it is very insipid. 



* The figure of Russell is in this respect correct ; but the last dorsal ray is 

 placed too near the caudal. The distance between the two fins exceeds by \ the 

 length of the last dorsal ray. 



