40 JAVAN MONOPTERE. 



cartilaginous, and hollowed above into a channel, is 

 furnished with two whitish tubercles : the openings 

 of the nostrils are not tubular, nor are they situated, 

 as in most fishes, before the eyes, but above them : 

 the gill-covers are soft and flaccid, appearing like a 

 duplicature of the skin : the gill-membrane has only 

 three rays, and the branchiae are only three in 

 number on each side : the bony arches which sup- 

 port them are but little bowed, and have no denti- 

 culated appearance or asperity : the caudal fin has 

 no perceptible rays, and the tail itself being very 

 compressed, resembles the shape of a two-edged 

 sword-blade: the lateral line, which is nearer the 

 back than the belly, extends from the gills to the 

 extremity of the tail, and is almost of a gold-colour: 

 the back is of a livid brown or blackish, and the 

 sides have a similar tinge, with small transverse 

 ferruginous bands : the belly is also^of this colour : 

 the general length of the animal is about seven 

 decimetres ; the circumference, in the thickest part 

 of the body, one decimetre ; and the weight more 

 than a hectogramme. This fish is a native of the 

 Indian seas, and is very common about the coasts 

 of Java a where it is considered as an excellent fpod, 



