19G THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 



and then gradually downwards to opposite about the sixteenth anal ray, from whence it passes 

 straight. 



Colours — Chestnut, tinged with green on the back, and lighter on the abdomen. A line 

 bluish-white line commences on the summit of the snout, passes upwards over the back of the eye, 

 and then runs onwards to its termination at the tail, midway between the lateral line and the base 

 of the dorsal fin. A second and much broader bluish-white line passes from the upper angle of 

 the jaw, under the eye, across the centre of the opercle, meets the lateral line opposite the com- 

 mencement of the second dorsal, and proceeds under it to the tail. Occasionally a third white 

 line skirts the base of the anal fin. Fins brownish edged with black. 



Not uncommon in the backwater and estuaries of Malabar. Eaten by the lower classes. 

 Grows to two feet seven inches in length. 



Habitat — Seas and estuaries of India. It is found from the Eastern coast of Africa to Japan 

 and Polynesia. 



* Plotosus limbatus. 

 Plotosus limbatus, Guv. & Vol. xv. p. 422 ; Giinther, Catal. v. p. 25. 



D. 112. A. 101. C. 11. 



Length of head from ^ to J of the total length. 



The nasal cirrus reaches as far as the posterior border of the orbit : and the maxillary to the 

 border of the opercle. 



Colours — Of an uniform maroon ; or dark with a greenish tinge. The fins are bordered with 

 black. 



Habitat — Seas of India. 



Fam. HETEROBRANCHOIDEI, BkeTcer. 

 Sub-Fam. HETEROBRANCHIFORMES, Bleeker. 



Genus CLAEIAS, Gronov. 

 Macropteronotus, Lacep. 

 Cossyphus & phagorus, Mc CleUand. 



Branchiostegals, from seven to nine. "Upper and lateral portion of head — which is hroad and 

 depressed— osseous, and if covered with skin it is extremely thin. Opercular hones articulated together, 

 moveable. Cirri eight, fleshy, two nasal, two maxillary and four mandibular. Cleft of mouth transverse. 

 Eyes small, with a free orbital margin. A dendritic accessory respiratory apparatus is attached to the 

 convex side of the second and fourth branchial arches and is received into a cavity behind the gill-cavity 

 proper. Dorsal fin long, and without a spine, it extends from the neck nearly to the caudal : no adipose 

 fin. Anal long, extending almost to caudal. Pectoral with a sharp spiue. Ventral with six rays. 

 Teeth in jaws in villiform bands, and a transverse band of villiform or granular ones on the vomer : villiform 

 also on palate. 



Clarias MAGUR. 

 Marpoo, Russell, pi. 168. 



