1238 Catalogue of Malayan Fishes, [Nov. 



smooth but radiated. The sides of the interspinal form an angle with 

 the centre part, and terminate behind in a blunt point. The interpa- 

 rietal is broad truncated or rounded behind ; its length is ^ of the rest 

 of the helmet, its breadth about \. The humeral is pointed, granu- 

 lated, triangular, its length 2\ in the head. The teeth are strong, 

 card-like. Those on the vomer are placed on two small oval spots ; 

 those on the palate on two similar but larger, all four forming one 

 series, broader than the maxillary ones. The palatal teeth easily fall 

 out, which renders the fish liable to be mistaken for a species of 

 Arius. The maxillary cirri reach to the point of the pectorals ; the 

 external mandibular to the base of the pectorals ; the internal are ^ of 

 the external. The dorsal spine is \ of the head, granulated on the 

 anterior half of its sides ; near the apex the anterior margin carries 

 4 or 5 small teeth, the posterior 6 or 7 similar ones. The point ter- 

 minates in a short soft filament, which is easily torn off. The pectoral 

 spine equals the length of the head : the anterior half of the external 

 margin is granulated ; the corresponding part of the sides is lineated ; 

 the external margin carries near the point a few weak teeth, and similar 

 appear along the internal margin. The point terminates in a soft fila- 

 ment, longer than that of the dorsal. The upper caudal lobe, a little 

 longer than the lower, is 4§ in the total length. The veutrals are £ of 

 the pectorals. The extent of the adipose dorsal is f of the anal. At the 

 origin of the lateral line appear some minute elongated grains ; the line 

 itself consists of small tubes which become indistinct after it has passed 

 the dorsal fin. This species is more or less numerous at all seasons. 

 It is eaten by the natives and the air-vessels collected for the China 

 market. 



M. Bleeker thinks it probable that B. javensis, Cuv. and Val. (XIV. 

 445) is identical with B. sondaicus. [Bleeker 1. c, 4(')]. 



Gen. Arius, Cuv. and Val. 1840. 

 Palatal teeth on two distinct separate plates, in some species advanc- 

 ing on the lateral angles of vomer. 



Arius truncatus, Cuv. and Val. 



Arius truncatus, Cuv. and Val. XV. 64. 

 Arius truncatus, Bleeker Verh. Bat. Gen. 4. 



