.1849.] Catalogue of Malayan Fishes, 1241 



The length of the head is J of the total. The helmet is granulated 

 to the middle above the orbit. The first interspinal is rectangular 

 nearly square, its length £ of the distance to the muzzle ; the posterior 

 margin is notched, receiving a broad point from the crescent-shaped 

 second interspinal. The anterior two thirds of the helmet are divided 

 by a broad longitudinal furrow. The interopercle and opercle are 

 radiated, the point of the latter indistinctly granular. The horizontal 

 diameter of the orbit is J of the length of the head. The teeth of the 

 jaws are card-like, on narrow bands. Those of the palate are granular, 

 placed on two close oval spots. The maxillary cirri do not quite 

 reach to the apex of the pectoral spine ; the external mandibular 

 pair is -\ shorter ; the internal is \ of the external. The vertical dia- 

 meter in front of the dorsal slightly exceeds the length of the head, 

 and equals the length of the dorsal spine. The latter is very strong, 

 the posterior margin and the anterior near the apex are toothed, the 

 rest is coarsely granulated. To the apex is attached a soft filament, 

 seldom exceeding \ the length of the spine. The pectoral spine re- 

 sembles the former, but it is slenderer, shorter by \, and without 

 filament. The extent of the adipose is \ of that of the anal ; its 

 height \ of the length of the sixth and seventh rays, which is \ of the 

 head. The caudal lobes equal the length of the head. The lateral 

 line resembles that of Arius truncatus, but it keeps nearer to the mid- 

 dle of the body. At Pinang smaller individuals of this species are 

 very numerous at all seasons. They form an article of food, and con- 

 tribute more than any other of the Siluroidce to the exportation of 

 Isinglass. 



Arius militaris, (Linne.) ? 



Silurus militaris, Linne: Syst. 1356.? 



Arius militaris, Cuv. and Val. XV. 114, PI. 430. 



Osteogeneiosus* Bleeker : Verhandel. Batav. Genootsch. XXI. 49. 



Head above and back bottle-green bronze, lighter on the sides of the 

 head and body ; abdomen silvery white, anterior half minutely dotted 

 with brown ; dorsal and caudal pale greyish olive, minutely dotted with 



* Osteogeneiosus, Bleeker, 1847, (Scrib. Osteogenius.) Teeth on the 

 anterior part of the palate disposed in two oblong arched groups ; two supra- 

 maxillary bony, rigid cirri ; branchiostegous rays five. Otherwise resembling 

 Arius. 



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