PREFACE. 



The material in this book has been put together hastily during 

 a period of five months in the intervals of considerable pressure of 

 other work. 



The plates have been beautifully prepared by Mr. Black of the 

 Survey Department, Kuala Lumpur, but it is to be regretted 

 that many of the fishes have been badly displayed and badly photo- 

 graphed. 



The writer was unable to find time to be present at the Clyde 

 Terrace Market, Singapore, where most of the photographs were 

 taken, the fish being borrowed for a minute or two from the stall- 

 holders, and in consequence, the specific identification of every fish 

 from a poor photograph has been impossible, though the writer 

 feels confident that the families and genera have been correctly 

 given. 



The writer's thanks are due to Messrs. Stead and Eoughley. 

 But for their works on Australian Fishes, from which quotations 

 have been freely made, this work could not have been written. 



To the Directors and Staff of the F. M. S. Museums and the 

 Raffles Museum, Singapore, who have granted me (facilities for 

 consulting the reference libraries and permission to examine and 

 photograph specimens in the Museum collections, I desire to ex- 

 press my indebtedness. 



C. X. Maxwell, 



Director of Supplies. 



Singapore, 16th June, 1921. 



