cclvi 



Burma, Imt most numerous in situations but little removed from tidal in- 

 fluence. Attains to 8 inches in length. 



Genus — Polyacanthus, Cuv. and Val. 



Branchiostegals six: pseudobranchice glandular or absent. Body 

 oblong, compressed. Mouth small and hit little protractile. Opercles spine- 

 less. Teeth small and fixed in the jaws ; palate edentulous. Dorsal fin 

 single, the spinous portion of much greater extent than the soft : the anal of 

 a similar character: ventral with one spine and five well developed rays, some 

 of which are usually elongate. Scales rather large, ctenoid. Lateral line 

 interrupted, partially or even entirely absent. Air-vessel simple. Pyloric 

 appendages few. 



29. Polyacanthus cupanus, Cuv. and Val. Punnum, Tarn. B. vi. 



14-16 16—19 4 



D. -5—7, A. Wn, L. 1. 29-32, L. tr. fig. Greenish, fins barred, with a dark 

 spot at the base of the caudal, and the prolonged ventral ray scarlet. 

 Found in ditches, irrigated fields, and shallow fresh and brackish waters, 

 but slightly above tidal influence, both on the Coromandel and Malabar 

 sides of the Madras Presidency. It rarely exceeds 3 iuches in length. 



Genus — Osphromenvs, Gomm. 



Trichopus, Laeep. 



Branchiostegals six. Body moderately elevated, compressed. Opercle 

 spineless : opercular pieces finely serrated in the immature. Mouth small, 

 protractile. Teeth in jaws fine and fixed ; palate edentulous. A single 

 dorsal fin, its spinous portion sometimes in excess, but usually less in ex- 

 tent than its soft part : anal spines in varying numbers. Outer ventral ray 

 long, filiform ; the remainder mostly rudimentary. Scales of moderate size, 

 ctenoid. Lateral line interrupted or absent. Air-vessel present. Pyloric 

 appendages two. 



30. Osphromenus nobilis, McClell. D. U A. ^ s , L. 1. 28-30. 

 Lateral line absent Two white bands along the sides, and a third 

 along the base of the anal fin. A small fish, found in the north and 

 north-east portions of Bengal. 



Genus — Tuichogaster, Bl. Sclin. 



Trichopodus, Ham. Buch. ; Colisa, Cuv. and Val. 

 Branchiostegals five. Branchial arches with toothed tubercles. Oper- 

 cle spineless : pre-opercle serrated, as is also usually thepre-orbital. Mouth 

 small and but little protractile. Teeth small, fixed, in the jaws; palate 

 edentulous. A single dorsal fin, the spinous of much greater extent than 

 the soft: anal spines similar, but the rayed portion more developed : ventral 

 fin consisting of one long filiform ray. Scales of moderate size, ctenoid. 

 Air-vessel bifid posteriorly, the two ends being prolonged. Pyloric appendages 

 few. 



31. Trichogaster fasciatus,^>\. Schn. Kun-gee, Panj.: Pich-ru, Sind : 

 Kussuan and Coilia, Ooriah : Ponundi, Tel. : JVga-pin-lhick-kouk and Nqa- 



phyin-thaleb, Burm. B. vi. D. -552, A. 13ZT7, L. 1. 30-31. Greenish, banded, 

 and some of the fins red-spotted. This little fish extends throughout 



