1328 Catalogue of Malayan Fishes. [Dec. 



membrane. The tongue is small, rounded, fleshy and tied to the floor 

 of the mouth. The anterior dorsal commences a little behind the an- 

 terior third of the back, the caudal not included ; the first spine is very 

 thick, with the anterior rounded margin prickly ; the sides are smooth, 

 longitudinally striated ; the length is less than ^ of the head ; but in 

 very young individuals it is proportionally a little longer. The second 

 spine, which at the root is in contact with the former, is much slenderer, 

 smooth, and but f of the anterior ; it is easily laid down, and when it 

 reclines, the anterior trigger-like spine spontaneously follows. The third, 

 slender spine is placed at a distance from the second of twice its own 

 length, which is \ of that of the former ; it may be reclined either 

 forwards or backwards in the groove of the back. All three spines are 

 connected by a lax membrane. The distance from the first to the 

 third spine equals the length of the former, and also the distance from 

 the third spine to the posterior dorsal fin. The latter is nearly equi- 

 lateral triangular. The anterior four rays, of which the first and second 

 are undivided, rapidly increase in length ; the fifth and sixth are the 

 longest, by J longer than the first dorsal spine ; the succeeding rays 

 gradually decrease ; the last, which is undivided, equals the third spine. 

 The sides of all the rays of this and the remaining fins are covered with 

 minute spines. The extent of the base of the second dorsal equals the 

 distance of this fin from the first dorsal spine. Its distance from the 

 caudal equals that from the third spine. The caudal is broad with the 

 posterior margin convex ; the length is a little less than the longest 

 dorsal rays. The anus is situated opposite the first dorsal ray ; the 

 anal fin commences opposite the fourth ; the extent of the base is a 

 little shorter than that of the posterior dorsal ; in other respects the 

 two are equal and terminate opposite each other. The length of the 

 rounded pectorals is a little more than ^ of the head. The pelvic spine 

 protrudes but very little, and is but slightly protractile ; externally its 

 length equals that of the longest dorsal rays ; the triangular dewlap 

 has the anterior and posterior margins equal, but the base, from the 

 root of the pelvic spine to the anus, exceeds by ^ the two margins. 

 The vertical diameter of the occiput equals the length of the head ; that 

 in front of the posterior dorsal is contained 2\ times in the total length ; 

 when the pelvic spine is protracted the greatest vertical diameter is \ of 

 the total length. The body is covered with rhomboidal prickly scales. At 



