Hippocampus mannulus and H. comes of the Penang seas, when drying assume the figure of a horse head, and are known to all as the sea-horse. Their movements are most graceful, while by means of a noise somewhat resembling a cough, they appear to be able to communicate one with another. • Macropodus pugnax, Cantor, occurs numerously at the foot of bills at Penang. Like the rest of the family, it is capable of living for some time out of water. The Siamese keep them in jars with water, where the larvm of mosquitoes is their food, and denominate them Pla kat (Pla, fish ; Kat, a fighter). The real fish, however, the exhibition of whose combats is a popular amusement with the Siamese, appears to be a variety of the present species, produced by artificial means, like the varieties of the golden carp of China, and Dr. Cantor names it Macro podus pugnax, var. (pl. fig. 4), Pla kat of the Siamese. When the fish is in a state of quiet with the fins at rest, the dull colours present nothing remarkable. But if two are brought within sight of each other, or if one see its own image in a looking - glass, the little creature becomes suddenly excited, the raised fats and the whole body shine with metallic colours of dazzling beauty, while the projected gill membrane, waving like a black frill round the throat, adds something grotesque to the general appearance. In this state it makes repeated darts at its real or re flected antagonist. But both when taken out of each other's sight, instantly become quiet. This description was drawn up in 1840 at Singapore, where a gentleman had been presented with several by the king of Siam. They were kept singly in glasses with water, fed with -larvm of mosquitoes, and bad thus lived for many months. The Sia.mese are as infatuated with the combats of these fishes, as Malays are with their cock fights, and stake considerable sums, and some times their own persons and their families. The licence of exhibiting fish fights is farmed, 'and affords a considerable annual revenue to the king of Siam. ' The Osphromenus olfax and Trichopodus tri chopterus, Pallas, are likewise very pugnacious amongst themselves.
The Magura fish in the Columbo lake is said to grunt under water when disturbed ; and Bishop Pallegoix, in his account of Siam, speaks of a fish resembling a sole, but of brilliant colouring with black spots, which the natives call dogs' tongues. It attaches itself to boats, and gives out a very sonorous and harmonious sound (Tenn. p. 470). Dr. Jerdon says, I have every reason to believe that this is the so-called sable fish of Trichinopoly, which ascends the Cauvery during the fr6shes for the purpose of spawning, and is caught for the sake of its roe, which is highly esteemed.' It is called Oolan-min at Madras.
Plagusia potous, Cuvier, the Ikan ledah of the Malays, is of excellent flavour, and, like Pla gusia trulla, passes at European tables under the denomination of sole. The species are all dis tinguished for their t,enacity of life. The fisher men at Penang assert that some species of Plagusia shoal at certain seasons.
Plotosus anguillaris and P. albilabris both occur in the seas of the Malay Peninsula. At Penang,
the latter species is less numerous than the former. Both axe eaten by the poorer class of natives. The wounds of both are equally dreaded.
Polynemus longifilis, Cuv., P. paradiseus, Linn., and P. risua, are the mango fish, or tapasi, tapasi mutchi, noticed at page 1109.
Raconda Russelliana, Gray. At Penang, indi viduals from 4 to 6 inches in length are numerous at all seasons, although less so than they are at the Sandheads and the mouth of the Ganges. The Bengal fishermen denominate the species Potassah-Fessah or Phasah, a generic term, par ticularly applied to Engraulis phasah, Buchan., and E. telarah, Buck lt is a heavy swimmer, and, like the rest of the Clupeidm, expires immedi ately on leaving its element. It is chiefly consumed in a dried state.
Scatophagus argus, Linn., is eaten by the natives, though many reject it on account of its reputed disgusting habits. In several.which were examined in the estuaries of the• Ganges and at Penano., the stomach contained rernains of Entail fishes and crustacea. According to Bennett, it is in Ceylon angled for on hooks baited with a kind of sea weed (Pendah), of which this fish appears to be particularly fond.
Stromateus niger, the black pomfret of India, is taken abundantly along the c,oasts of India, and is largely dried for export to the interior. It is at all aensons taken in abundance in the Straits of Malacca, where, however, it is considered inferior to Stromateus Sinensis, the white pomfret. In a dried state it is largely exported inland, and thus it appears in tho bazars of Hindustan, which are chiefly supplied from Bombay. S. Sinensis is the painpie blanche of Pondicherry. It is justly renowned for its flavour, but it requires to be used when freshly taken. In the Straits and on the Coromandel coast it is abundant at all seasons. At the Sandheads in the Bay of Bengal (21° N. lat.), it occurs, but leas numerously. Stromatous argen teus, Bloch., in the Straita Settlements, as well rts at Madras, is likewise denominated the white pomfret. In abundance and excellence it vies with S. Sinensis. Stromateus cinereus, Bloch., is abundant at Penang, but probably from its inferior size it is considered somewhat inferior in quality. At the Sandheads it occurs rarely. The various ponafrets are valued by Europeans as food.
7'oxotes jaculator, Pallas, or archer fish, appears to be the variety described by MM. Clavier and Valenciennes, from a drawing in Col. Farquhar's possession. The food of several examined consisted of remains of crustacea. In the Straits of Malacca this fish occurs in all seasons, but not numerously. It is eaten by the Malays.
Tetrodon species have the power of inflating the abdomen, and in this state, when taken or handled, they emit a grating sound. They are also remarkable for tenacity of life, which they are capable of sustaining for several hours after having been taken out of their element. They have a peculiar disagreeable odour, resembling that of the Gobioidaa, which continues for several years in specimens preserved in spirits of wine. In the Malayan countries they are considered poisonous, and are even objected to as manure.