188 THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 



maxillary to the middle or end of anal : and the external mandibular which arises just under the 

 angle of the mouth extends to the middle of the pectoral, whilst the internal pair arise near 

 together under symphysis and do not reach quite so far posteriorly as the external ones. 



Teeth — Villiform in both jaws in several rows : those on vomer and palate also villiform and 

 ^5^ disposed in a single uninterrupted crescentic band. 



Fins. — Pectoral arises under the extremity of the opercle and in the lower fourth of the body : 

 the dorsal is situated over the posterior third of the pectoral spine : the anal midway between the 

 base of the ventral and base of the caudal : the adipose dorsal commences a short distance anterior 

 to the anal. Pectoral spine strong, curved, laterally compressed, its length equals the distance 

 between the angle of the mouth and the posterior extremity of the opercle : it has about ten very 



strong curved denticulations along its internal border, whilst its anterior 

 border ends in a point directed forwards, between which and the first 

 tooth — on its internal border — is a membraneous prolongation in the form 

 of a trefoil leaf. The dorsal spine is of the same length but more slender 

 than that of the pectoral, it is finely serrated posteriorly and ends superiorly in a soft prolongation. 

 The three first anal rays are undivided ; the caudal deeply lobed, the superior being generally the 

 longest whilst both frequently terminate in filamentous prolongations. 



Lateral line — Passes direct from the upper margin of the opercle to the centre of the 

 caudal fin. 



Colours — Bright leaden silvery, lightest along the sides and with a purplish gloss over the 

 cheeks. A black spot just anterior to the root of the dorsal spine. Fins finely dotted with 

 minute black points. 



Not uncommon in the rivers and tanks of fresh water, and occasionally found in the back- 

 water. Immediately on being captured the fishermen break off its pectoral and dorsal spines, as 

 wounds from them are dreaded. It takes a bait freely, and is eaten by the Natives, but does not 

 appear to exceed five inches in length. 

 Habitat — Malabar. 



Hypselobagrus CAVASIUS. 



Pimelodus cavasius, Ham. Buck. pp. 203, 379, pi. 11, f. 67. 



Bagrus cavasius, Guv. & Vol. xiv. p. 209 ; Jerdon, Madras Journal, xv. p. 337. 



Pimelodus seengtee, Sylces, Trans. Z. S. ii. p. 374, pi. 66, f. 2. 



Macrones cavasius, Giinther, Catal. v. p. 76. 



D. J | 0. P. i V. 6. A. 11. C. 15. 



The length of the head rather more than \, base of adipose dorsal § of total length. Height 

 of body \ of total length. 



Head as broad as high, its greatest width being equal to two-thirds of its length. Upper 

 jaw the longest : snout slightly depressed. Central longitudinal groove narrow extending 

 posteriorly to the anterior extremity of the base of the occipital process : on either side are raised 

 ridges which from opposite the orbits pass irregularly forward, and behind them in a stellated form. 

 Occipital process narrow, and extending to the basal bone of the dorsal fin. Nasal cirri short : 

 maxillary cirri reaching to the base of the caudal fin : mandibular ones short, the external being 

 longer than the head, the internal slightly shorter. Both apertures of nostrils are nearer to the 

 snout than they are to the orbits. 



