THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 



Wallago ATTU. 



193 



Silurus athu, Bloch, Scfrn. p. 378, t. 75. 



Wallagoo, Russell, pi. 165. 



Wallago attu, Bleeker, Atl. Ich. ii. p. 79, t. 86, f. 1 ; Giinther, Catal. v. p. 36. 



Schilbe boalis, Syhes, T. Z. S. ii. p. 368, pi. 64, f. 3. 



Silurus boalis, Ham. Buck. pp. 154, 375, pi. 29, f. 49 ; Jerdon, Madras Journal, xv. 



p. 335. 

 Silurus Wallagoo, Cuv. & Vol. xiv. p. 354. 

 W t ahlah, Mai. 



B. xix-xxi. I). I P. W-t? V. 8-10. A. 86-93. C. 17. 



Length of head T 2 X , of pectoral \, of caudal \, of base of dorsal about J > of base of anal * 

 of total length. Height of head -^, of body \, of dorsal \, of anal T ' 5 , of ventral & of total 



length. 



Eyes— Transversely oval. Horizontal diameter \, vertical diameter \ of length of head, nearly 



2 diameters from end of snout, 2^ diameters apart. 



Body compressed from side to side : head depressed. A slight rise from the snout to the first 

 dorsal, from thence a gradual descent to the caudal. Abdominal profile more curved than that of 



flip IdrcIc 



' Gape of mouth oblique, wide, and its cleft extending the width of the orbit behind its pos- 

 terior extremity. Lower jaw the longest, with eight pores along each ramus. Nostrils round, 

 placed midway between the orbits and snout. Nasal cirri broad, fleshy, and extending to about 

 the thirtieth anal ray. Mandibular cirri one-fourth length of head. 



Teeth— Vilhform, in many rows in the upper and lower jaws, also in two oblong and rather 

 widely separated spots on vomer. 



Fins-Dorsal commences over the posterior third of pectoral : ventral under the dorsal : anal 

 at about a third of the distance between the snout and the base of the caudal. Dorsal high. 

 Pectoral spine moderately strong and rough, but can scarcely be said to be toothed; its oblique 

 articulations are very distinct, and its termination soft : the extremity of the fin reaches to opposite 

 the sixth anal ray. Caudal lobed, the upper the longest, and the lower the widest. A short 

 interval exists between the anal and caudal fins. 



Lateral line— At first curves downwards, but from opposite the tenth ray of the anal proceeds 



direct to the centre of the caudal. 



Colours— Upper surface of body greenish, sides and abdomen silvery white. All the fins with 

 the exception of the dorsal yellowish white. The upper portion of the anal fin has a purplish tinge 

 along its whole extent. Dorsal greenish yellow. 



Common in the rivers, and excellent eating, although rather rich; it salts well, and is espe- 

 cially adapted for curries. Usually found to about three and a half feet in length, but said to attain 

 six feet. The jaw bones of this fish when dried, are stated by Russell to be used at Vizagapatam 

 for carding the finest kinds of cotton. It is very voracious, and takes a bait freely. 



The number of branchiostegous rays varies exceedingly in this species. In three examined in 



one day all differed. 



Habitat— Fresh waters of India, Burmah, and Malaysia. 



2 c 



