484 PHTSOSTOMI. 



out the mouth of eacla of tliese trumpets. The large obliquely transverse splints (they are sometirnes turned 

 backwards) meet within a line and a half below the centrum of the atlas, between and behind the splints. This 

 and the next centrum are deeply grooved." 



Geographical distrihution. — Throughout Africa and western Asia to India, Ceylon, Burma, Siam, the 

 Malay Archipelago, Hong-Kong, the Philippines and beyond. These fish being amphibious live for some time 

 after removal from their native element. 



ZJses.— Considered by the natives of India as exceedingly wholesome and invigorating. 



SYNOPSIS OP SPECIES. 



a. Vertical fins confiuent with the caudal. 



1. Clarlas jagur, D. 53, A. 50. 



h. Vertical fins not united to the caudal. 



2. Clarias Teysmanni, D. 70-77, A. 53-63. Vomerine teeth obtuse. Ceylon, Java. 



3. Clarias Dussumieri, D. 69-70, A. 50-59. Pectoral spine externally serrated. Vomerme teeth very 

 obtuse. Malabar, Pondicherrv to the Malay Archipelago. , ri i i 



4. Clarias magur, D. 62-76, A. 45-58. Vomerine teeth villifonn. India, Burma, and Ceylon to the 



Malay Archipelago. . 



5. Clarias Assamensis, D. 64-68, A. 46-50. Vomerine teeth obtuse and m two pyritorm bands. 



Assam. 



A. Vertical fins confiuent with the caudal. 

 1. Clarias jagur. 



Ma cropteronotiis jagur. Ham. Buch. Pish. Ganges, pp. 145, 374. 

 Clarias jagur, Cuv. and Val. xv, p. 388; Bleeker, Beng. p. 58. 



D. 53, P. 1/7, V. 6, A. 50, C. 14. 



" On the crown of the head is one oval cavity." Nasal barbels as long as the head, maxillary slightly 

 longer: the two outer mandibular are a little longer than the inner, and reach to the back of the head. 

 Teeth— it is stated there are none on the palate. C'o?oi»-s— superiorly blackish-green, below whitish, whilst the 

 sides are slightly variegated with clouds. The fins are of the same colour with the parts on which they 

 are inserted. 



This fish I have never seen although I have searched for it in numerous places, the nearest approach has 

 been a mutilated G. magur. Hamilton Buchanan does not record where he procured it, and on examining his 

 MSS. list of fishes obtained in each several district, no allusion is made to it, neither is a figure of it amongst 

 his drawings. It is probably therefore an estuary form. 



Habitat.— ? It is said to be larger than C. magur, attaining a foot-and-a-half in length. 



B. " Vertical fins not confluent u-ith the caudal. 

 2. Clarias Teysmanni. 

 Bleeker, Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind. xiii, p. 344, Prod. Silur. p. 348, and Atl. Ich. Silur. p. lOi, t. 99, f. 1 : 

 Giinther, Catal. v, p. 19. 



? Clarias hracliysoma, Giinther, Catal. v, p. 20. 



B. xi, D. 70-77, P. T Vo' ^^- 6, A. 53-63, C. 17, Vert. 16/41. 



Length of head to end of opercle 5 to 5^, height of body 6i to 7V in the total length. Ei/es—sitn&ted 

 in the commencement of the second third of the total length of the head to the end of the occipital process. 

 The greatest width of the head equals its length to hind edge of opercle. Head nearly smooth. Occipital 

 process 2/3 as long as wide at its base. Barhels—ihe nasal as long as the head, the maxillary reach the end of 

 the pectoral fin, the mandibular ones are shorter. Teeth— those on the vomer somewhat obtuse, forming 

 a crescentic band which in its centre is of about equal width to the premaxillary band. F/)i«— the pectoral 



ypes of C. brachijsoma 

 the fish appears to me to be similar to C. Teysmanni. 

 Habitat. — Ceylon and Java. 



3. Clarias Dussumieri. 



Cuv. and Val. xv, p. 382 ; Jerdon, M. J. L. and Sc. 1849, p. 342 ; Day, Fishes of Malabar, p. 197. 

 Clarias melanoderma, Bleeker, Silur. Batav. p. 54, and Prod. Sil. p. 341, and Atl. Ich. Silur. p. lOl-, t, .)/■, 



f. 2 ; Giinther, Catal. v, p. 19. 



Clarias (melanosoma) melasoma, Bleeker, Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind. iii, p. 427 



B. xi, D. 69-70, P. i, V. 6, A. 50-59, C. 16. 



