cclxxi 



Head osseous and rough in places. A longitudinal row of bony plates 

 along the median line of the bach. Mouth small, transverse, inferior. 

 Nostrils round, close together, but separated by a valve. Barbels, one pair 

 of maxillary and several of mandibular. Teeth absent. A single short 

 dorsal fin, without a distinct spine: ventral with seven rays : anal short: 

 caudal with the tipper ray prolonged. Air-vessel enclosed in a bony 

 capsule. 



118. Sisor rabdophorus, Ham. Buch. EHr-ri-dee, Sind. D. £, A. 6. 

 Maxillary barbels reach base of pectoral spine : a species of flap from 

 lower lip with a moderately long barbel on either side, and two more 

 intermediate but shorter ones : between these flaps are several short 

 barbels on a transverse line across the chin, and several more minute 

 ones on the isthmus. Blackish above, lighter below. Upper portions 

 of Ganges, Jumna, and Indus with its affluents, attaining several feet 

 in length. 



Genus — Gagata, Bleeker. 



Callomystax, Giinther. 



Branchiostegals about six. Gill-openings of moderate width, the 

 membrane being confluent with the shin of the isthmus : thorax destitute 

 of plaits. Superior surface of the head with rather rough ridges, and 

 covered by very thin skin. Byes subcutaneous. Mouth belotv the snout, 

 small and transverse. Nostrils close together, rounded, the posterior being 

 provided with a small barbel. Barbels eight, the maxillary slightly 

 osseous, and having a broad basal membrane : the two pairs of mandibular 

 ones in a transverse row just behind the loioer lip. Small teeth in both 

 jaws; none on the palate. First dorsal having one strong spine and six 

 rays : adipose fin of moderate length : ventral with six rays, situated entirely 

 posterior to the dorsal : caudal deeply forked. Air-vessel in two portions, 

 and enclosed in bony capsules formed from the bodies of an anterior vertebra: 

 these lateral portions, which are globular, communicate with one another. 



119. Gagata typus, Bleeker. Pui/ah-chettah, Ooriah. D. ^/0, A. 

 15. Maxillary barbels reach a little beyond the root of the pectoral. 

 Dull grey; the outer two-thirds of the pectoral, dorsal and anal fins 

 black ; caudal white. Estuaries and large rivers of Lower Bengal and 

 Burma, attaining about a foot in length. 



Genu s — Hehipiatel odus, Bleeker. 



Branchiostegals fire or six. Gill-openings infer o-lateral, the mem- 

 branes attached to the isthmus. Upper surface of the head osseous. Byes 

 subcutaneous. Upper jaw the longer. Nostrils approximating, the posterior 

 being provided with a valve or even with a barbel. Barbels six or eight: 

 if six, consisting of one maxillary and two mandibular pairs : if eight, 

 likewise a nasal pair. Villiform teeth in the jatvs : palate edentulous. 

 First dorsal with one spine and six or seven rays : adipose fin short, or 

 of moderate length : pectoral spine strong : anal tvithout an elongated base : 

 ventral with six rays, situated posteriorly to the dorsal : caudal forked. 

 Air-vessel divided into two lobes and enclosed in bone. 



a. With eight barbels. 



130. Hemipimelodus itchkeea, Sykes. D. j/0, A. 13. Eight bar- 

 bels,, a short nasal pair. Yellowish bronze, three dark blotches on the 



