1282 Catalogue of Malayan Fishes. [Dec, 



exceeds that of the dorsal ; the last ray is a little elongated ; the first 

 ray is situated at equal distance from the root of the caudal and the 

 last ventral ray. The first ventral ray is situated in the centre between 

 the muzzle and the root of the caudal, opposite the second fourth of 

 the dorsal ;* the length of the fin is | of the caudal ; that of the elon- 

 gated, triangular scale f of the longest ray. The pectorals extend 

 nearly to the ventrals ; their length is J of the head ; the elongated 

 axillary scale is \ of the length of the fin. The sides are covered by 

 15 longitudinal series of scales, of which there are 39 or 40 between 

 the gill-opening and the caudal. By these characters it may readily be 

 distinguished from a closely allied species : Alausa ilisha, (Buchan. 

 Ham.)f Small individuals are at Pinang very numerous during all 

 seasons ; larger ones less so, although by no means scarce. Like A. ilisha 

 in Bengal, the present species is by the English of the Straits Settle- 

 ments denominated : Shad or Sablefish, and is equally valued for its 

 flavour. Both are, however, somewhat oily, very rich and bony. Alausa 

 toll is remarkable as forming in the Indian Archipelago a distinct and 

 important branch of fishery, principally for the sake of its roe. It is the 

 kind of " Shad" to which Mr. Crawfurd refers as frequenting the great 



* M. Valenciennes refers Russell No. CXCV. Kelee, to the young of the present 

 species, but the ventral fins are placed very far backwards, opposite the posterior 

 fourth of the base of the dorsal. If therefore the figure of Russell is correct, it 

 represents a species different from A. toll. 



f Syn. : Russell CXCVIII. Palasah. — Clupanodon ilisha, Buchan. Ham. 243, 

 382, Tab. XIX. Fig. 73 (Young.)— Alosah palasah, Cuv. R. A. II. 320 (1).— Clu- 

 panodon ilisha, Taylor: Gleanings of Science, II. 171. — Alausa palasah, Cuv. and 

 Val. XX. 432.— Alosa palasah, Jerdon : Madras Journ. XV. 345. (Excl. Syn. 

 Clupea indica, Gray).— The number of fin rays is : D 19, C 19|, A 19, V 8, 

 P 14, 15 or 16, Br. VI. It has 19 longitudinal series of scales, of which there are 

 47 to 49 between the gilUopening and the caudal. Buchanan Hamilton gives: 

 D 20, A 21, probably owing to his having counted the last double rays as single. 

 Sir John Richardson quotes, not without doubt, a specimen in the British Mu- 

 seum as Alosa palasah, Russell 198 ? (Report 1845, 306). Forty scales form a 

 longitudinal row, and there are fifteen rows in height; " the pectorals reach nearly 

 to the ventrals, which are attached before the middle of the dorsal." These cha- 

 racters are sufficient to prove the species to be distinct from Russell's Palasah, 

 while they agree with Alausa toli, Cuv. and Val. But Sir J. Richardson counts : 

 D16, A 18, P15, V9. 



