FAMILY, I— SILURID^. 471 



on the inferior surface of the head. Upper jaiv, as a rule, the longer. Nostrils patent, the posterior ones transverse 

 and as near together as theij are to the anterior pair. Barbels eight, one nasal pair, one maxillary and 

 two mandibular pairs, these last commencing in a transverse line close to the hind margin of the lower lip. Teeth 

 villiform on the jaws and palate. Dorsal fin short, with one spine and six to eight rags; a very small adipose dorsal 

 which may be absorbed in the adult (Schilbeichthys) ; pectoral with a serrated spine ; anal long, terminating at some 

 distance from, a forked caudal. Ventral with from 6 to 8 rays. Air-vessel rather small, some^vhat heart-shaped, with 

 a notch at its anterior edge, and closely attached to the front surfaces of the veHebrai. An axillary pore generally 

 present. 



Geographical distribution. — Fresli waters of Sind, India, Ceylon, and Burma to the Malay Archipelago, 

 where Bleeker observed it appears to have a single representative.* 



Uses — These fishes are all excellent as food, but in some localities are to be avoided as they consume offal. 



SYNOPSIS OF SPECIES. 

 Psmdeutropiws goongwaree, A. 54. Nasal barbels reach the dorsal, maxillary barbels the anal fin : the 

 mandibular are about as long as the head. Cleft of mouth to below first third of the eye. Deccan, Bengal, 

 and Burma. 



2. Pseudeutropius taakree, A. 43-46. Maxillary barbels reach middle of pectoral fin, the mandibular ones 

 shorter than the head. Deccan, Kistna, and Jumna rivers. 



3. Pseudeutropius acutirostris, A. 42-46. Snout projecting, and inferiorly covered with teeth which are 

 entirely in advance of those of the lower jaw. The maxillary barbels reach the anal fin, the mandibular ones 

 are as long as the head. Burma. 



4. Pseudeutropius murius, A. 38-43. Maxillary barbels as long as head, the others shorter. Rivers of 

 India except its more southern portion. 



5. Pseudeutropius Sykesii, A. 3.5-37. Maxillary barbels reach the ventral fin, the mandibular ones as long 

 as the head. Teeth on the palate in two distinct patches. 



6. Pseudeutropius atherinoides, A. 33-41. Maxillary barbels reach the anal fin, the mandibular are longer 

 than the head. Dark bands along the body, and a spot at the base of the caudal. India (except the western 

 coast) and Assam. 



7. Pseudeutropius garua, A. 29-36. Maxillary barbels reach the ventral fin, the mandibular pairs are 

 about as long as the head. The adipose dorsal fin is absent in adults. Throughout the large rivers of Sind, 

 India, Assam, and Burma. 



1. Pseudeutropius goongwaree, Plate CIX, fig. 3. 



Hypophthalmus goongiaaree, Sykes, Trans. Zool. Soc. ii, p. 369, t. 64, f. 3. 



Bagrus goongtvaree, Bleeker, Beng. en Hind. p. 56 ; Jerdon, M. J. L. and Sc. 1849, p. 336. 



Eutropius viacrophtfiahnus, Blyth. P. A. S. of Beng. 1860, p. 156. 



Pseudeutropius goong^varee, Giinther, Catal. v, p. 61; Day, Proc. Zool. Sbc. 1869, p. 617. 



B. vi, D. f 1 10, P. 1/13, V. 6, A. 54 (/J, C. 17. 



Length of head 5, of caudal 5, height of body 5 in the total length. Eyes — with a very broad circular 

 adipose lid, situated partially on the lower surface of the head, diameter 2f in the length of head, 3/4 to 1 

 diameter from the end of snout, and 1 apart. The median longitudinal groove on the head reaches the base of 

 the occipital process, which latter is narrow, especially at its base. Width of the head rather above 1/2 its 

 length. Upper jaw the longer : width of gape of mouth equals the diameter of the eye : cleft extends to 

 below first third of the eye. Barbels — the nasal pair reach the base of the dorsal fin, the maxillary the anal 

 fin, and the mandibular ones are about as long as the head. Teeth — in a wide pyriform band wider than those 

 in the jaws, the vomerine and palatine groups touching, but the two vomerine patches having a short interspace 

 between them. Fins — dorsal spine somewhat slender, nearly as long as the head and very finely serrated 

 posteriorly. Pectoral spine slightly longer, stronger, and rather strongly denticulated internally. Ventral fin 

 not quite 1/2 as long as the head, and under the centre of the dorsal fin. Caudal forked. Free portion of the 

 tail rather higher at its base than it is long. Colours — silvery, darkest superiorly. 



Hahiiat. — Rivers of the Deccan, Bengal and Burma, attaining about a foot in length. The specimen 

 figured (life-size) was from Kurnool. 



2. Pseudeutropius taakree, Plate CIX, fig 4. 



Hypophthalmus taakree,^ Sykes, T. Z. S. ii, p. 369, t. 64, f. 4. 



Bagrus taakree, Bleeker, Hind. p. 56 ; Jerdon, M. J. L. and Sc. 1849, p. 336. 



Pseudeutropius longimanus, Giinther, Catal. v, p. 60. 



Eutropius taakree, Day, P. Z. S. 1867, p. 564. 



Pseudeutropius taakree. Day, 1. c. 1869, p. 617. 



* Dr. Giinther (Geolog. Mag. Oct. 1876) detennines a fossil fish from Sumatra, deficient of a head, to be a Pseutleuiropius. 

 He does not note the position of the harliels ! 



• t .for remarks on the specimen of Pseudeutropiiis, Sykes, which formed the type of P. longimanus, Giinther, see Preface under 

 the head of Col. Sykes. 



