{ 



1322 Catalogue of Malayan Fishes. [Dec. 



little of the ground-colour to view like single small spots ; cheeks, 

 throat and abdomen with paler and fewer brown spots ; abdomen in 

 some individuals not spotted ; lateral line of the ground-colour of the 

 body. Iris light brown, with a narrow golden ring enclosing the 

 pupil.* 



Total length : lOf to 20f inch. 



D 0, 



C 2, 3, 4 or 5, Br. VI. 



A 0, 



Habit.-— Sea of Pinang, Malayan Peninsula. 



Arracan coast, Sunda isles, China Seas, (Hong-Kong, Can- 

 ton, Chusan, Woosung.) 



The general form of the fish is cylindrical, gradually tapering from 

 the occiput, where the diameter is greatest, to the tail which is greatly 

 compressed, like a two-edged sword, and tapers more suddenly than 

 the body, terminating in a sharp point. The head is conical, swelling 

 towards the occiput, the profile of which is more or less arched. Be- 

 tween the eyes the head is somewhat depressed, and the profile slopes 

 towards the rounded depressed muzzle, which slightly projects beyond 

 the rounded narrower apex of the lower jaw. Both individually and 

 according to its age this species presents considerable variations in its 

 external characters. The following have been found constant in a 

 number of individuals of different size. The body is viscous and without 

 scales. The eye is situated above the middle of the upper lip, almost 

 bordering upon the profile ; the form of the eye is oval, and it is obliquely 

 placed, with the greatest diameter diverging backwards and downwards. 

 The distance between the posterior margins of the eye is therefore 

 greater than that between the anterior margins ; the distances from the 



* Specimens preserved in spirits of wine change the colours, and appear as 

 described by Sir John Richardson. Monopterus Icevis, " Corpore caryophyllaceo- 

 brunneo irnmaculato, subtus pallidiori ; genis punctatis." — Monopterus cinereus. 

 «• The colour of the fish generally is lead-grey, paler beneath, and thickly speckled 

 on the back and sides with small points of hair brown. There are some pale 

 streaks on the top of the head." {Voy. Sulph. IchtJi. pp. 116, 117.) The 

 drawing from which Monopterus xanthognathus was taken, has evidently been 

 poloured from a living or fresh fish. 



