1819.] Catalogue of Malayan Fishes. 1341 



the length of the opening itself, but slightly exceeds the horizontal 

 diameter of the eye. The branchiostegous rays are setaceous. The 

 pelvic spine is narrow like, the blade of a sabre, and in six individuals 

 examined, so completely hid in the integuments, as not even to en- 

 croach upon the abdominal profile which is very slightly arched. Nor 

 did they offer the least trace of a triangular dewlap, as represented in 

 the figure Hardwicke's Illustrations. The profile of the back rises but 

 little and slowly from the muzzle to the posterior dorsal, from the ter- 

 mination of which it gently descends ; the abdominal outline is but 

 little more arched. The anterior dorsal consists of a single spine 

 placed above the pupil, in front of the pectorals ; it is very slender, 

 setaceous, covered with minute spines ; in all individuals observed, it 

 reclined in its dorsal groove, but might readily be raised ; the mem- 

 brane is small triangular, apparently without a second spine. The 

 distance between the dorsal spine and the posterior dorsal fin is by \ 

 shorter than that between the spine and the chin. The upper margin 

 of the posterior dorsal is a little arched ; the rays towards the middle 

 are the longest, and equal the length of the spine ; the extent of the 

 base exceeds by about ^ the length of the head ; the interval between 

 the last dorsal and the root of the upper caudal ray varies from a 

 little less than \ of, to 2^ times in the extent of the fin. The anal 

 resembles the posterior dorsal, but it commences a little more forwards 

 behind the anus, and is carried farther backwards, so that its extent 

 at the base exceeds that of the former by J or -J, while its distance 

 from the caudal is ^ less than that of the former. The caudal 

 is very elongated, lanceolate ; the two upper and lower rays are, 

 like those of the other fins, undivided ; the margins of all rays have 

 a series of microscopic spines. On each side of the root of the caudal 

 appears a triangular pointed space, covered with minute hair-like 

 spines, like the rest of the body. The length of the central rays vary 

 in the different individuals from 2f times in, to ^ of the total. The 

 upper rays of the pectorals, the longest, slightly exceed J of the 

 length of the head. The body is covered with little rounded scales 

 and has a fine velvety appearance from its being densely covered with 

 minute, microscopic spines. The lateral line is so fine that it is hardly 

 visible to the naked eye. Behind the orbit, at its origin, it sends two 

 branches round the orbit, of which the upper one accompanies the pro- 



