between which are nearly o f the same colour with the abdomen and under part of the tail, viz. a dull reddish-
white. The fins not so black as the back; the ventral alone are light coloured.
The lengtb of the subject described, sixteen inches.
REMARKS.
The Ophicephalus was not known to Linnsus, nor is it found in Gmelin’s edition of the Systema Natune.
From specimens received from Tranquebar, the new genus was formed by Bloch, from whom I have borrowed
the Generic Character.
No. CLXIII.
O p h i c e p h a l u s corpore ohlongo, squamis magnis, rotundis, punctatis; linea laterali injracta;
pinnis pectoralibus caudaque rotundaiis cum acumine.
T h e O p h i c e p h a l u s w i t h an oblong body, large, rounded, dotted scales; the lateral line
infracted; the pectoral fins, and the caudal round, with a small point.
Ophicephalus punctatus Bloch. Part x. p . 117. Tab. 35 8.
Called b y the Natives S o w a r a h .
B . V. Z). 45. Z. 17. V. 6. A. 26. C. 14.
Th e body. This fish in shape differs from the last. It is rather oblong tiian lanceolate, rounder at the shoulder',
more compressed near the tail, and bends from the anus gently upward to the end of the anal fin. The
scales are larger, orbicular, and all, except on the abdomen, marked with a cluster of small black dots on the
anterior part. The body, as in the former fish, lubricous.
The head. There is little difference in the shape of the head ; but the scales on the crown are here only
laiger than those on the trunk, of the same form, and imbricate. The marginal row of teeth more complete.
The tubuli on the edge of the rostrum less conspicuous. The mouth, tongue, palate, eyes, nostrils, and
branchial membrane ; the branchiæ, lateral line, and position of the anus, as already described in the M c j t t a h .
The first lamina of the operculum obtusely angular, the second acuminate.
The Jins. The dorsal and anal are alike in both fish, except the want of a spine in the latter fin ; the pectoral
and caudal are pointed as well as round ; the ventral more obtuse, and proportionally longer.
The colour less dusky, with an obscure tinge of green, A regular row of angular marks, of a colour lighter
than that of the back, forms a denticulate border to the lateral line, from its infraction to its end. Beneath
these the colour is a yellowish white. The dorsal, anal, and caudal fins, with a greenish cast, are less dusky
than the back ; the pectoral and ventral of a yellowish dusky white.
The length, one foot six inches.
REMARKS.
This fish was brought in the month of July, in a jar of water, from the lake of Ankapilly, and lived several
days. They survive many hours even out of water.
No. CLXIV.
O p h i c e p h a l u s corpore lanceolato, purpurascente; pinnis pectoralibus radiis duodecem, striatis.
T h e O p h i c e p h a l u s with a lanceolate, pu rp lish b o d y ; a pectoral fin o f twelve rays,
striated transversely.
Called b y the Natives K o r a M o t t a .
B . v. D. 36. Z. 12. V. 5. A. 23. C. 14.
T h is fish has only twelve rays in the pectoral fin, and five in the ventral. In most of the other characters it
agrees better with the Muttah, No. C LX Il. than with the one last described.
In colour it differed from both. The back a cast of dusky purple, the breast bluish, the abdomen dark gray.
T he dorsal and part of the anal fin of the same colour as the body; the hinder portion of the dorsal a dark
orange; the pectoral streaked transversely black and yellow; the points of the caudal rays distinctly separate,
and tipped yellow.
The length of the subject, six inches.
REMARKS.
None of this genus were ever caught in the sea or in the river. I found them in the lakes of Ankapilly and
Casern Cottah, as also in a tank close to Vizagapatam.
It has been already remarked that, like eels, they may be long preserved alive in fresh water.