1392 Catalogue of Malayan Fishes, [Dec. 



ventrals and terminates a little before the termination of the latter fins. 

 The base scarcely exceeds one-half of the height of the fin ; the ante- 

 rior margin is convex, the two others nearly straight ; the angles are 

 acute. The posterior dorsal is scarcely smaller than the anterior, which 

 it resembles in form ; it occupies the centre of the distance between 

 the termination of the anterior dorsal and the commencement of the 

 caudal. The posterior margin of the caudal is deeply excavated, and 

 there is a lower lobe but little smaller than the upper. The caudal 

 keel commences beneath the posterior dorsal fin. The ventrals resem- 

 ble the anterior dorsal in form and size, but the posterior margin is 

 excavated. The male appendages extend as far as the termination of 

 the base of the posterior dorsal. The outline of the base of each 

 tooth is rhomboidal, with the horizontal diameter slightly exceeding 

 the vertical. The external surface is globular, covered with minute 

 transverse undulating furrows. The largest teeth are situated on the 

 two protuberances of the upper- and the three of the lower jaw. Imme- 

 diately behind the teeth of the upper jaw, appears a transversal dupli- 

 cature or valve, with a smooth margin, but with a notch under the 

 symphysis of the jaw. The valve, the palate and the flattened rounded 

 tongue are all covered with scales like those of the rest of the body. 

 They are very minute and consist of a triangular keel, rooted in the 

 integuments, but projecting beyond them in an oblique backwards 

 direction. Near the point the keel expands and presents a minute 

 rhomboidal surface, so that the entire scale resembles the arm of an 

 anchor with its fluke and peak. In many places the scales are worn 

 down, become smooth and granular, and lose their original form. 

 Larger and different scales are distributed in regular conspicuous crests. 

 Of the latter there are two of an oval shape, placed obliquely, a little 

 in front of and higher up than the eyes. Immediately behind this 

 pair commences a second, each of which borders the supraciliar margin, 

 and extends a little behind the upper margin of the spiracle. From 

 each of the supraciliar crests proceeds a smaller narrower one downwards, 

 bordering the anterior part of the orbit. From the centre between the 

 supraorbital crests commences the dorsal, the longest of all, which ex- 

 tends to opposite the termination of the pectorals. Each scapular 

 region carries a superior and an inferior crest, both of which are narrow 

 and placed parallel to the dorsal crest. The superior is \, the inferior 





