194: the fishes of malabar. 



"Wallago Malabaricus. 

 Silurus Malabaricus, Cuv. & Val. xiv. p. 353 ; Jerdon, Madras Journal, xv. p. 334 ; 

 GiintJier, Catal. v. p. 34. 



MUNGEE WAHLAH, Mai. 



B. xv. D. 4. P. -jL V. 9. A. 68. C. 17. 



Length of head \, of base of dorsal about yj^, of pectoral \, of base of anal § , of caudal \ 

 of total length. Height of head y\, of body \ , of dorsal ^, of ventral ^p of anal ^, of base 

 of caudal ^ of total length. 



Eyes — Diameter ^ of length of head, 1 J diameters apart, nearly 1 diameter from end of snout. 



Gape of mouth very wide, being three times its antero-posterior length. Muzzle rounded in 

 front. Lower jaw the longest, curving upwards in the centre, so that when closed its extremity is 

 completely in advance of the upper jaw, and even higher. The cleft of the mouth only extends half 

 the distance to the eye, where it ascends to opposite the centre of the orbit. The maxillary cirri 

 are situated opposite its angle, and reach to the end of the pectoral fin : the mandibular pair are 

 short and only equal to a third the length of the head. Head fleshy. 



Teeth — Sharp, carded, and recurved, in six or eight rows on the intermaxillary bone and the 

 lower jaw, and also in two oblique oval spots on the vomer, separated by an interspace : none on 

 palate. 



Fins — Dorsal arises above the commencement of the ventral : the pectoral reaches just beyond 

 the origin of the anal, which is divided from the caudal by a notch, and for two-thirds of its 

 distance from the abdomen is covered by a fleshy sort of sheath. Dorsal fin weak and expanded 

 in the centre. Pectoral spine serrated on its inferior aspect. Caudal lobed, the superior the 

 longest. 



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



Colours — Greenish along the back, and white with a purplish tinge along the sides, abdomen 

 and chest. The whole of the body minutely studded with fine black dots. A large round dark 

 finger mark on the shoulder, opposite the centre of the opercle. 



This fish is found in the same localities as the Wallago attu, but is said never to exceed two 

 feet in length. It is equally good for salting and eating. 



Habitat — Eivers of Malabar. 



Fam. CHACOIDEI, Bleeker. 

 Sub-Pam. PLOTOSIFORMES, Bleeker. 



Genus PLOTOSUS, Lacep. 



Branchiostegals from nine to twelve. Head conical, depressed. Opercular bones with immoveable 

 articulations. Eyes small, with free lids. Mouth transverse. Cirri eight, one pair to posterior nasal 

 orifices, which are some distance apart from the anterior, which are on the margin of the snout or perforating 

 the upper lip : one maxillary and two mandibular pairs. Teeth in jaws, unequal in size, in several 

 rows, those on the vomer obtuse and in a semilunar patch. Two dorsals, the first short and having a sharp 



