Page:Journal of the Straits Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. (IA mobot31753002848262).pdf/43

 The Bonang (Plataa teira) is a deep-bodied fish which attains a length of at least 20 inches. Russell says their flavour is excellent and Cantor makes the same remark.

It is known in Australia as the Dark Bat-fish.

MOON-FISH.

(DREPANIDAE.)

The Daun běharu (Drepane punctata) is a very common fish of fair edible value.

Considerable quantities of this fish have been taken in trawls both in India and Ceylon. Sir K. Gupta says they are very much sought after and always command a good price in Bengal. They are rather too bony to be popular with Europeans in the East.

"BLACK TREVALLY."

(TEUTHIDIDAE.)

According to Dr. Boulenger's classification (1902), this family comprises a single recent genus, Teuthis, with about 30 species, herbivorous fishes from the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans. According to Bottard ("Poissons venimeux," Paris 1889) the sting from the spines of these fishes is much dreaded, and this I can vouch for, though personally I have suffered very little inconvenience from the pricks of these spines.

It will be noticed that Duncker gives the generic synonym Ketang to members of this family and this is the name given by Malays to the genus Ephippus which also has venomous spines.

In all species of Teuthis there are 13 dorsal spines and 7 anal spines, whereas Ephippus has 9 dorsal and 3 anal spines, which shews that the Malay system of classification does not agree with that adopted by scientists.

The Dengkis (T. nebulosa) is known on the East coast of Australia as the "Black Trevally" and the Debam (T. java) is also found on the Australian coast.

They are small fish, fairly common in the markets where they find a ready sale.

GOURAMI, ETC.

(OSPHROMENIDAE.)

This family of fresh water fishes is remarkable for several reasons:

From an edible point of view, because it includes the Kalui (Osphromenus olfax), known in India as the Gourami, which has a world wide reputation as one of the finest flavoured fresh water fish known, as well as the Pěpuyu, a favourite food fish in Negri Sembilan.