1368 Catalogue of Malayan Fishes. [Dec. 



capable of sustaining for several hours after having been taken out of 

 their element. They have a peculiar disagreeable odour, resembling that 

 of Gobioidce, which continues in specimens for several years preserved 

 in spirits of wine. In the Malayan countries they are considered highly 

 poisonous, and are even objected to as manure. 



Ordo LOPHOBRANCHII. 

 fam. syngnathoid^:. 



Gen. Syngnathus, Artedi, 1738, (Cuvier, 1817.) 



Snout tubular, formed by the prolongation of the ethmoid, vomer, 

 tympanals, pre-opercles, sub-opercles, &c, and terminated by an ordina- 

 ry mouth, vertically cleft on the extremity of the snout ; respiratory 

 aperture near the nape ; ventrals none ; body elongated, thin, differing 

 but little in diameter throughout its whole length. 



A. Without anal. 



Syngnathus penicillus, Cantor. 



Head and body pale greenish brown, minutely dotted with brown on 

 the sides ; in the middle of each ring of the body a horizontal, oval, cream- 

 coloured spot, beneath edged with black ; on each side of the abdomen 

 an indistinct cream-coloured dot ; pectorals, dorsal and the membranous 

 sac hyaline, the latter minutely dotted with pale brown ; caudal rays 

 blackish, with hyaline points. Iris and the circular pupil black. 



D 22, C 6, P 18. Br. ? Rings of the body 18, of the tail 35. 



Total length : 3| inch. 



Habit. — Sea of Pinang. 



The length of the head is contained 4£ times in the total ; the dis- 

 tance from the posterior margin of the orbit to the gill-opening is J- of 

 the length of the head ; that from the symphysis of the lower jaw to the 

 anterior margin of the orbit is f of the length of the head ; the diameter 

 of the orbit is y 1 ^ of the head ; the distance between the eyes is 

 less than their diameter. From the posterior margin of the orbit 

 proceeds a sharp raised line a little downwards to the posterior margin 

 of the opercle ; from above and below radiate backwards a number of 

 very fine lines. The body and tail, as far as the membranous sac 



