1849.] 



Catalogue of Malayan Fishes. 



1387 



Zygaena laticeps, Cantor: Quarterly Med. Journ. Calcutta, 1837, PI. 



1, 2, 3, (Young.) 



Zygaena blochii. Ibid. Fig, IV. (Foetus) and Transact. Med. and 

 Phys. Soc. Calcutta, VIII. Pt. II. App. ccxi. 



Zygaena laticeps, Swainson : I. 134, Fig. 11, and II. 318. 



Zygaena blochii, Yarrell : Supplem. 64, Fig. 3, (Foetus.) 



Zygaena laticeps, Ibid. Fig. 4, (Young.) 



Sphyrna blochii, Miiller und Henle, 54, 199. (Young.) 



Zygaena blochii, Cantor in Ann. and Mag. of Nat. Hist. 1845. 



(Adult and Foetus.) 



Sphyrna blochii, Bleeker : Verhand. Batav. Gen. XXII. 6. 



Head, body and fins above bluish- or slate grey ; beneath white or 

 pale yellowish. Iris golden ; pupil circular, black. 



Habit. — Sea of Pinang, Malayan Peninsula, Singapore. 



Bay of Bengal, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Celebes, Madura. 



Total length : 4 ft. 4 inch. 



In all ages the head is remarkably broad. The breadth of the head 

 is not only liable to slight individual variations, but also to more consi- 

 derable variations according to age. In the foetus the length of the 

 head, the distance from the angle of the mouth to the anterior margin 

 of the head is about J of the breadth, or the distance between the 

 lateral margins of the head. With age the length diminishes to about 

 J, which it has been found to be in the largest (adult 1) fish yet exa- 

 mined, a female 4 feet 4 inch in length. The variations will be per- 

 ceived by the following admeasurements. 



Total length, 



Breadth of 



head. 

 Length of 



do. 



4 ft. 4 in 



2ft. If in, 

 .... 3-Un. 



3 ft. 8 in. 2 ft. 2 in. 



1 ft. 9f in. ft. lOf in. 

 .... 3#in. ...... U in, 



ft. 11 in. 



l#in 



1 ft. 14 in, 



ft. 6 in. 

 . . . . 1# in, 



lft. If in. 



Oft. 4 1 in. 

 ....l#in. 



A little more than the central third of the anterior margin of the 

 head forms a large slightly undulating arch. At the termination 

 of this arch appear the nostrils. In the foetus and the young the 

 rest of the anterior margin is directed backwards, and the posterior 

 margin joins the body at an acute angle. But in older individuals the 

 anterior margin of the head, from the nostrils, is not directed back- 

 wards, and the posterior margin joins the body at a right angle. 



