THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 245 



Length of head J, of pectoral fa of base of dorsal §, of base of anal nearly f of the total 

 length. Height of head fa of body fa of dorsal about fa of anal about jfe of the total length. 

 Eyes — Diameter 1 to ^5 in the length of the head, 2 to 3 diameters apart. 

 Body anteriorly cylindrical, posteriorly compressed, head depressed. 



Opening of mouth extends to opposite or even behind the posterior border of the orbit : the 

 upper jaw rather the shortest. Posterior opening of nostrils high, and close to the anterior margm 

 of the eye ; the anterior nostril tubular, and near to the antero -lateral margin of the snout. A row 

 of pores exists along either mandible on its lower surface. Branchial aperture oval, and situated 

 just in front of the pectoral fin. 



Teeth— In lower jaw in several rows anteriorly, decreasing in number posteriorly. On the 

 vomer in a crowded semi-oval spot, becoming pointed behind, but in front its sides almost touch 

 the palatine bands, which are of the same shape. Pharyngeal teeth on two oval patches above, 

 and below on two elongated triangles. 



F ms The pectoral rounded. The dorsal commences the length of the head below the origin 



of the anal : or slightly before it, Murmna {anguilla) Malabarica, Kaup : or over it, Murcena 

 [anguilla) Dussumieri, Kaup. Caudal rounded. 

 Scales — Small, but visible. 



Lateral line— Marked by distant pores in its first three quarters, posterior to which tubes are 

 better developed. 



Colours — Brownish green above, fading to dirty white on the abdomen. The whole of the 

 upper part of the body appears as if it were covered by bamboo matting. 



Common, and excellent eating. It grows to four feet in length. Its comparative thickness 

 varies greatly in different places, and according to the seasons of the year. 



Habitat — Fresh waters and estuaries of India, Malaysia, and the Society Islands. 



Sub-Fam. CONGROIDEI, Sleeker. 



Group CONGRIFORMES, Sleeker. 



Sub-Group MURiENESOCES, Sleeker. 



Genus MUE^NESOX, McClelland, 



Branchiostegals, from fifteen to twenty-two. Body moderately elongated : tail more than twice aa 

 long aa the body. Mouth cleft far behind the eyes ; snout thin and elevated : maxilla elongated : the 

 anterior nostril perforating above the margin of the upper lip before the middle of the eyes, the posterior 

 open and thrown far behind the apex of the snout. Vertical fins well developed ; the dorsal commencing 

 above or before the branchial aperture : the dorsal, caudal, and anal continuous. Pectoral present. Teeth, 

 those of the palatines in from one to three rows : the nasal and mandibular elongated anteriorly and subu- 

 late : vomerine teeth in three series, the central row elongated and compressed. Scales absent. Branchial 

 aperture semicircular on either side of body, and not confluent with one another. Heart near the branchiae. 

 Anus a long distance posterior to the branchial aperture. 



