206 THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 



in the adult. Below the mandibulse is an oval suctorial disk, the transverse diameter of which is 

 rather more than that of the orbit. One pair of fleshy cirri exists on the snout, and a second pair 

 at angles of the maxillse. In the skeleton the maxilla is broad, with a thin anterior edge, and an 

 external extremity inferiorly very concave. The lower jaw is also transverse, broad, flat above, 

 rather concave below, and at its external superior margin also concave. Owing to the great width 

 of the lower jaw a hollow exists imder the chin, and here the suctorial disk is situated. The 

 nostrils are nearer to the orbits than they are to the end of the snout, the posterior is round, the 

 anterior tubular. Interorbital space nearly flat from side to side, and between it and the snout is 

 a deep transverse furrow. 



Teeth — The inferior pharyngeal teeth are sharp, curved, and in three rows, 2, 4, 5 | 5, 4, 2, 

 the long plate above them is of an arrow-headed shape, directed posteriorly. 



Fins. The dorsal is situated rather nearer the snout than it is to the base of the caudal, and 



a little in advance of the ventrals, higher anteriorly than posteriorly,- its base destitute of scales, 

 and its first three rays flexible though undivided. Pectorals inserted sub-norizontally. Anal 

 short, situated entirely in the posterior fourth of the body, its commencement being midway 

 between the posterior extremity of the pectoral and the termination of the lower caudal lobe. 

 Caudal large, with a broad base, emarginate : its base scaled. 



Scales — Large. 



Lateral line — Nearly straight from the upper margin of opercle to the centre of the caudal, 

 and nearer to the back than it is to the abdominal surface. 



Colours — Back deep olive, fading to dirty white along the abdomen, and a wide dull leaden 

 blue stripe passing along the lateral line, and the four central caudal rays, where it is of a shot 

 green. Cheeks and under surface of mouth pinkish or flesh coloured. Disk dull yellow, and a 

 slight yellow tinge extends along the abdomen. Anal bright yellow, with minute black points 

 between the rays : base of pectoral and ventral dull red, the remainder of the fins slate colour. 



This fish is found in the rivers of the plains, but more abundantly, and up to eight inches in 

 length, in the mountain streams. The Rev. Henry Baker, from whom I received my hill speci- 

 mens, informs me that amongst the Europeans it goes by the name of " the hill trout," and that 

 it takes a worm pretty freely. 



Habitat — Bivers and mountain streams in Malabar. 



Gkoup Labeones, Bleeker. 



Genus EOHITA, Guv. and Veil 



Roiiitodes, Bleeker. 



Branchiostegals, three : pseudobranchiae. Body elliptical or moderately elongated. Mouth destitute 

 of teeth: gape oval : lower jaw thin, and without a tubercle at the symphysis: postlabial sulcus simple. 

 Lips ctenated or fringed, those of the two jaws continuous, and without lateral lobes ; the end of the 

 lower jaw uncovered. Preorbital bone touches the margin of the orbit. Cirri four (Eohita, Cuv. & Val.), 

 of which one pair are on the snout, the other on the maxilla : or only one pair present (Rohitodes, Bleeker), 

 which are situated on the maxillse. Pharyngeal teeth in three series. Dorsal fin moderate, or elon- 

 gated, destitute of bony rays, and situated before the commencement of the ventral. Scales large or 

 moderate. 



