186 THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 



behind the orbits. Nasal cirri equal to half the length of the head, the maxillary pair slightly 

 longer ; the external of the mandibular pairs reaches as far as the base of the pectoral, whilst the 

 internal pah' is one-fourth shorter. 



Teeth Very fine and villiform in both intermaxillaries and lower jaw ; on the vomer 



and palate they are considerably longer and stronger, and are arranged in a transverse band, 

 slightly crescentic posteriorly. 



Fins — The first dorsal arises opposite the middle of the pectoral, and the ventral just beyond 

 its termination, and reaching as far as the commencement of the anal. Pectoral situated in the 

 lower quarter of the body. The adipose dorsal commences opposite the middle of the anal. Dorsal 

 spine strongly serrated, having about ten teeth posteriorly in its upper two-thirds, and three serra- 

 tures in the front of its summit anteriorly, its extremity ending in a soft filament : its rays are 

 longer than its spine. The pectoral spine is stronger than that of the dorsal, slightly roughened, 

 serrated anteriorly, and more strongly so posteriorly, with from sixteen to eighteen teeth : when 

 laid flat this spine is protected by an overhanging bony arch, formed by the process of the shoulder 

 bone. Adipose dorsal soft and rounded. Anal rather rounded posteriorly. Caudal deeply lunated ; 

 outer rays the longest. 



Lateral line — Passes from the summit of the opercle direct to the centre of the caudal. 



Colours — Back greenish yellow ; sides golden ; a large round black finger mark situated 

 just behind the opercle, and surrounded by a light yellow margin. The first and adipose dorsals 

 are yellowish, with a dusky tinge. Caudal with a deep black base and a blackish margin, the 

 ground colour being of a reddish orange, slightly stained with black at its extremity. Anal of a 

 deep orange red, slightly margined with black. Eyes orange. 



Exceedingly common in the Kurriavanoor river, near Cochin, where they appear to prefer 

 the deepest pools ; four or five are frequently taken out at one haul of a cast-net. They are also 

 occasionally captured during the monsoon in the backwater at Kurriapudnam, and in the river at 

 Cochin. Said by the fishermen rarely to exceed sixteen inches in length. Esteemed for eating ; 

 but the wounds inflicted by their pectoral spines are dreaded. 



Habitat — Fresh waters and occasionally backwaters of the Malabar coast. 



Genus HEMIBAGRUS, Bleeker. 



Brancbiostegals, from eleven to twelve. Head depressed. Opercular bones with moveable articulations. 

 An interspace between the posterior extremity of occipital process, and the anterior extremity of the basal 

 bone of the dorsal fin ; bones rough or granulated. Back wide, fleshy. Eyes with free circular lids. 

 Mouth anterior. Cirri eight, one pair at posterior nasal orifices, which are some distance from the anterior 

 which are tubular : one maxillary and two mandibular pairs, the last being near the corner of the mouth. 

 Teeth in intermaxillaries and lower jaw in several villiform rows ; those on vomer and palatines form a 

 semicircular undivided patch. Two dorsals, the first with one denticulated spine and seven rays : the 

 second adipose and of moderate size. Pectoral with a strong denticulated spine. Anal of medium size. 

 Caudal bilobed. Interbranchial membrane deeply cleft. Ah bladder present. 



* HEMIBAGRUS OCULATUS. 



Bagrus oculatus, Cuv. & Vol. xiv. p. 424 ; Jerdon, Madras Journal, xv. p. 339. 



