FAMILY, I— SILURID^. 4G7 



The single specimen procured was not in a very good state of preservation, it appears to be a 

 distinct Hvmijriimelodus, provided such are not adult specimens of Arius which have lost tlieir palatine teeth, or 

 examples in which such teeth were abnormally deficient during the whole of their existence. 



Arius Layardi, Giinther, from Ceylon, were it not that it has two pear-shaped patches of granular teeth 

 placed far back, agrees with the above, but a series of examples is necessary to prove whether they are 

 identical or not. 



Habitat. — Bombay, (the single specimen obtained 14 inches in length), and perhaps Ceylon. 



22. Arius jella, Plate CVI, fig. 3. 

 Silurus, Russell, ii, p. 54, and Deddi jellah, pi. 160. 

 B. vi, D. I I 0, P. 1/10, V. 6, A. 17^8 (^5), 0. 19. 



Length of head 4|, of caudal 5 j, height of dorsal fin 5^, of body 6j in the total length. Ei/es — diameter 

 6 in the length of head, 2 to 2| diameters from the end of snout, and 3 apart. Greatest width of the head 

 1/(5 more than its height, and equals its length behind the nostrils. Upper jaw the longer, the extent of the 

 gape of the mouth equals 3/8 of the length of the head. The median longitudinal groove becomes narrow and 

 deep posteriorly, and reaches nearly to the base of the occipital process, which is slightly keeled, has nearly 

 straight sides and is slightly longer than broad, posteriorly it is a little emarginate and I'eaches the narrow basal 

 bone of the dorsal fin. Most of the occiput and the occipital process are closely granulated. ISarbels — the 

 maxillary are nearly as long as the head, the outer mandibular ones almost reach the gill-opening, whilst the 

 inner are shorter. Teeth — on the palate in two convex, oblong-ovate patclies of globular ones, which are rather 

 convergent beliind : none on the vomer. Fins — dorsal spine of moderate strength, as long as the head 

 excluding the snout, sometimes with a very long soft termination, slightly serrated anteriorly, or merely rough 

 in large specimens, strongly so posteriorly. Pectoral spine stronger than that of the dorsal and rather 

 longer, roughened and slightly serrated externally, denticulated internally. Base of adipose dorsal slightly 

 shorter than that of the rayed fin. Ventral scarcely reaches the anal. Upper caudal lobe the longer. 

 Colours — grayish-silvery, becoming white on the sides and below. Fins stained gray, with a white outer edge 

 to the anal. Adipose dorsal with a dark blotch. 



In Cuv. and Val. it is suggested that Russell's fish is Arius hilineatus, C. V., Bleeker, &c. which has 

 villiform teeth, and this error has been continued subsequently. Russell observes " teeth on the palate as before 

 described in 166." Number 166 is the Plotosus arab, which he observes has " teeth in several rows, in the 

 anterior part of the jaws (palate) small, sub-granulous : in the upper jaw very minute," p. 51. 



In Cuv. and Val. it is observed that their fis1i came from Pondicherry, that it much resembles A. gagora, 

 and has A. 18, it is therefore unlikely to be Pimelodus arias, H. B. having A. 22. 



Habitat. — Coromandel coast of India, The specimen figured was from Madras. 



23. Arius Dussumieri, Plate CVII, fig. 7. 



Cuv. and Val. xv, p. 84 ; Bleeker, Beng. en Hind. p. 66 ; Giinther, Catal. v, p. 163. 

 ? Arius Belangerii, Cuv. and Val. xv, p. 71 ; Bleeker, Beng. en Hind. p. 56. 



B. vi, D. I I 0, P. 1/12, V. 6, A. 14-16 (xJlfr), C. 17. 



Length of head 4 to 4j, of caudal 5, height of body 5 m the total length. Eijes — diameter 6| in the 

 length of head, 2j diameters from the end of snout, and 4 apart. Head one-fourth wider than high, its width 

 equals its length excluding the snout, or even behind the angle of the mouth. Upper jaw the longer, the width 

 of the gape of the mouth equals 4/9 of the length of the head. Median longitudinal groove shallow, becoming 

 most distinct posteriorly, where it reaches the base of the occipital process, which is strongly keeled and nearly 

 {or quite) as wide at its base as it is long, its lateral edges are nearly straight, whUst it extends to the basal bone 

 which is narrow and S-shaped. A few scattered granulations on the posterior portion of the head, 

 and over the base of the occipital process. Barbels — the maxillary ones reach just beyond the base of the 

 pectoral, the external mandibular are not quite so long. Teeth — obtusely conical on the palate, in four 

 widely separated patches, those on either side of the vomer being smaller than the palatine patches. Fins — 

 the dorsal as high as the body, the spine as long as the head excluding the snout, anteriorly in its upper half 

 serrated, in its lower roughened, it is serrated posteriorly : the length of the base of the adipose dorsal equals 

 half of that of the rayed fin. Pectoral spine i-athcr shorter than that of the dorsal, externally it is serrated in 

 its anterior half, rough in its posterior, whilst internally it is serrated, it reaches 2/3 of the way to the ventral. 

 Ventral just reaches the anal. Colours — bluish along the back, becoming lighter on the sides and below, 

 fins blackish externally. 



In Cuv. and Val. xv, p. 161 , is Pimelodus or Hemipimelodus Peronii, marked as from India, but with the 

 further oteer^ation that the locality from whence it was procm-ed is not recorded. It has A. 16. Head 5 in 

 the total. The maxillary barbels scarcely extending beyond the opercle. It may be this species from which 

 the palatine teeth ar-e absent. It would seem that absence of palatine teeth is more general in East Indian species 

 in those forms in which they are normally globular, than those in which they are villifoi-m when present. 



Habitat. — Malabar coast of India and Ceylon. Specimen figured 9'8 inches in length and from 

 Malabar. 



3 2 



