1849.] Catalogue of Malayan Fishes. 1327 



distant white dots ; fins brownish white ; second dorsal, caudal and 

 anal with large brownish grey or black patches. Iris pale frosted 

 silvery minutely dotted with brown ; in some with three or four in- 

 distinct radiating brown bars ; orbital margin blackish. 



(From 3 to 6 inch, in length.) Yellowish-, reddish- or blackish- 

 brown, back darker, abdomen lighter than the rest ; sides, throat and 

 abdomen in some individuals with more or less distinct rounded whitish 

 spots* ; and in others an indistinct whitish forwards arched band 

 from eye to eye ; pectorals transparent brownish grey with a blackish 

 spot at the root ; rest of the fins brownish black, darker than the body ; 

 the basal half of their membranes in some individuals with very indis- 

 tinct whitish spots. Iris pale silvery round the pupil ; rest black. 



D 3—23, 24 or 25, C 10|, A 20, 21 or 22, P 14 or 15, Br. VI. 



Habit.- — Sea of Malayan Peninsula and Islands. 



Japan, China Sea, Natunas, Indian Ocean, Mauritius, 



Madagascar. 



Total length : 6 inch. 



When the pelvic spine is withdrawn the general outline of the body 

 is oval. The length of the head, from the muzzle to the upper part of 

 the gill-opening, is contained 3^ times in the total length. The anterior 

 angle of the orbit is situated close to the profile above the centre of the 

 length of the head, of which the horizontal diameter is £ ; the distance 

 across the slightly arched forehead is a little less than two diameters. 

 Each nostril has two small tubular apertures situated a little in front of 

 the anterior angle of the orbit ; the anterior aperture is directed forwards, 

 the posterior backwards. The mouth is small with fleshy lips. In 

 each jaw appear eight obliquely truncated, trenchant teeth, gradually 

 increasing in size towards the symphysis. In the teeth of the upper 

 jaw the internal surface is larger than the external, elongated oval, 

 flattened with a rounded impression at the anterior part. In young 

 individuals the internal surface is finely transversely furrowed, but 

 with age it becomes smooth. The internal surface of the teeth of 

 the lower jaw is almost entirely hid by a small crescent-shaped 



* In one individual, taken off the Natunas Isles, (4° N. L. 108* E. in the 

 southern part of the China Sea,) the body was said to be covered with blood red 

 spots ; after having been preserved in spirits of wine, it appeared of a uniformly 

 blackish brown. 



8 H 



