MALAYAN PISHES, 



37 



All these fislies are small^ rarely exceeding li) bichee in length. 

 Very little is known re^farding their lialjits or distribution and they 

 are mi at preseirt of mucli ecouomic importajico. 



I have taken a few in a trawl near Peitaiig and thero is a pos^ 

 sibility that new methods of fishing they may beeome uaeful 

 market tish. 



Rpd Mullet arc known to visit the British coasts, in vast shoala, 

 itt rare intervals. 



BAT-FISHES. 



(SCORrWWAE.) 



As far I know, these fish are repreaeuteJ m our waters by 

 the genus Fseiius only. 



The Oedabane or Nyior-nyior (P. argentcus) is known in 

 Austnilia as the Silvery Bat-tisli. It attjiins a loligth of almut 

 eight or nine inches only and its brendth is about equul to it?^ length, 

 it is common and of fairly good edible quality but is not, nt ])regent, 

 of impoTtance. 



The Nyior-nyior (P* faiciformis) is also a ^niall fish attain- 

 ing a length of perhaps 9 or 10 inches. 



CORAL FISHES. 



iCHAETODONTlDA E.) 



A large group of about 200 species of murine cftraivorous 

 fishes, coiifiTied to tlie Tropies, mostly of small slzi^^ and remarkable 

 for their singular fomii; and nsarkiiv^rs and brillifliit colours, 



Tli^y are partioulapiy abundant about voleanir roeks and coral 

 reefs ; but some ascend estuarie«s and tidal rivere, though not to any 

 great distance. 



The Ketang {Epkippus argns) ranges from the Indian Ocean 

 to China and Australia, attaining a foot in length. If taken in the 

 sea or in clean batk-watert^ it i* an excellent edible fis-h, but those 

 captured in the vicinity of polluted rivers should be avoifled, as 

 there is evidence that they are foul feeders. 



Hamilton Buchanan remarks of it, " When newly caught it ia 

 a 11 li of great beauty, easy digestiotij and excellent flavour: but 

 jifter death it soon becomes soft and .strong testing/' In t'eylon 

 ^* It i.! generally eateemed, its ileah partaking tbe fiavour of trotit '* 

 (Bennett). 



Thjs fisk and its congener (E. nnUHfasciitfitH) are favourably 

 known in Attatralia as Butter-fl&h and are a common table li^li in 

 hotels and restaurants, 



Ikan inggu or Ikan babi arc Malay equivaleiiti? for the genus 

 flolacatithihK, The former tcnn applying to the ctdouratiou and 

 Uie latter to the rather pig-like proftle and tlie presence, in all 

 these tUhes^ of a pair of pre-opercular spines directed l>ackward?5, 

 wliich are considered to resemble boar's tu<ks. 



