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52 PISCES ABDOMINALES. SILURUS.
The trunk. The back declines very gently towards the tail ; tJie sides compressed, a httle convex ; the tail
taper, flattish. Tlie two exterior branchiæ pectinate, the next two tuberculate, and there is a fifth small leaf,
both denticulate and jiectinatc. Lateral line high, straight. The amis distant from the tail.
The fins. There are two dorsal, the first scapular, armed with a serrated spine; the second rising about the
middle of the back, runs parallel with the opposite anal, and both are blended with the pointed caudal fin.
The pectoral low, lanceolate, and, like the dorsal, armed with a serrated spine; the ventral distant from the
head, small, lanceolate.
The colour. Tlie head and trunk above the line, blackish, the sides a dull copper, the belly and throat
bright lead. From the rostrum to the tail, on both sides, are two whitish lines, and a third from the pectoral
fin. The fins are nearly as dark as the back, the ventral excepted, which are lighter and glassy.
The length of tlie subject described seven inches ; but one caught in the river measured two feet seven.
No. CLXVII.
SiLURUs p in n a dorsali postica adiposa; c irris sex, quorum duo lo n g iss im i; cauda biloha fa lc a ta ,
seiacea.
T h e SiLDRUs w i th an ad ip ose d orsal fin ; s ix c ir r i, tw o o f w h i c h v e r y lo n g ; a b ilo b e
fa lca te, setaceous tail.
C a lled b y the N a t iv e s C h in t a J e l l a h .
B. iv. D .t . 0. P.J. F. 6. .4. 17. c. IS.
T h e body sub-lanceolate, round and slender towards the end of the tail. No scales, but the back rough, and
behind the vertex looks as if studded with golden pins.
The bead sharp, ovate, rough; the rostrum projects over the mouth, which, as well as the lips, jaws, teeth,
and palate, agree with the last species. The two longer cirri rise from the sides of the rostrum near the point.
The trunk. The back acclivous to the first dorsal fin, between which and the spurious fin almost straight,
and then declines rather abruptly to the tail. The lateral line after waving gently till opposite to the anal fin,
proceeds straight to the middle of the caudal fin ; and a second line rising also from the operculum, bends
obliquely to its termination at the ventral fin.
The fins. The first dorsal armed with a strong spine, a little curve, rough, serrated; the rays slightly
falcate: the second stands on the declivity where the^ il grows roundish; the pectoral is armed like the dorsal
and of a like shape; the ventral fin very small; the/caudal falcate and setaceous.
The colour on the upper parts a dull leaden : the breast and belly whitish.
T he length four inches eight lines.
No. CLXVIII.
p in n a dorsali unica, longissima; c irris octo. Cauda rotunda.
T h e SiLURUs w i th a s in g le , v e r y lo n g , d orsal fin ; e ig h t c ir r i ; an d a ro u n d tail.
Silu ru s An g u illa ris, L in n . S. X . p . 502.
C a lled b y the N a t iv e s M a r po o .
B . ix. D . 69. P .T . V. 6. A . 50. C. IS.
Th e body oblong, somewhat roundish, without scales, adipose.
The head large, as broad as tlie body, depressed, grooved, covered with a roughish skin, through which the
divisions of the cranium are visible. The rostrum short, rounded at the margin, projecting a little over the
mouth. The mouth transverse, large ; lips thin. The lower jaw shorter than the upper ; both set with several
rows of small, curve teeth. Tongue short, retracted, smooth, but the palate rough. Eyes small, nostrils
double, distant from each other, and nearer the rostrum than the orbit, Branchial opercula one-leaved ; the
membrane partly hidden, aperture gular. The cirri eight in number : two larger and shorter than the otliers,
from the upper lip; one from each posterior nostril, and four from the lower jaw.
Tlie trunk rounded about the shoulders, grows more and more compressed towards the tail. The branchiæ
denticulate. Lateral line high, straiglit, hardly slanting. The anus distant from the tail.
The fins. The solitary dorsal rises near the shoulder, is slightly assurgent, and continued to within half an
inch of the caudal fin ; the pectoral armed with a strong serrated spine ; the ventral near the anus, shorter than
the pectoral, acuminate in the middle; the anal shorter than the dorsal, but corresponds in shape; the caudal
fin distinct, orbicular.
The colour. The upper part of tlie head and back nearly black, the sides, under the line, from a dusky
purplish changes to a dull white, the colour of tlie abdomen and breast.
Lengtb of the subject ten inches.
REMARKS.
I caught this fish when angling in a tank at Tartoor, and with some surprise recognised an old Aleppo
acquaintance. I never met witli the species at Vizagapatam.