FAMILY, IV-CYPRINODONTID^. 523 



Aplocheilus vittatus, Jerdon, M. J. L. and Sc. 1849, p. 330. 



B. v-vi, D. 8-9, P. 15, V. 6, A. 15-17, C. 19, L. 1. 32-34, L. tr. 9. 



Lengtli of head 4f, of caudal 4i, height of body 5 to 5t in the total length. 77//es— diameter 3i in 

 the length of head, 1| diameters from the end of snout, and Ij apart. Jaws of about the same length 

 anteriorly, the maxilla reaches to below the first third of the eye. Teeth — outer row in lower jaw, the outer 

 and innermost row in the upjier jaw rather enlarged, and in a single row across the palate. Fins — dorsal 

 inserted above the last few anal rays : pectoral nearly as long as the head. Second ventral ray elongated 

 reaching to nearly the middle of the anal fin : anal high, the last rays about the same length as the anterior 

 ones : central caudal rays rather prolonged. Colours — vary with the seasons and sex. Greeni.sh with a gloss of 

 purple on the cheek and along the abdominal surface. A golden green spot in the centre of each scale and 

 also on the eye. Eight to ten vertical black bands pass down the sides to the abdomen. A black spot at 

 the base of the dorsal, it, the caudal, and posterior half of the anal, with black or green spots, in some these 

 fins are tipped with orange, in others they are darkish. In a Ceylon specimen in the British Museum (marked 

 M. panchax) there are dark blotches and not distinct bars as seen in Malabar. 



Habitat. — This species is found in Coorg and the Wynaad, down the Malabar coast and Ceylon. It attains 

 4 inches in length, and on the Western coast of India, is common in rivers, tanks, and paddy fields, and even 

 in tidal waters. I have specimens as small as 1'2 inches in length, the bands are well marked, also the 

 elongated ventral ray, whilst the caudal is much j^rolonged, and the height of the fish is 6 in the total leno'th. 



4. Haplochilus panchax, Plate CXXI, fig. 3. 



Esox panchax, Ham. Buch. Fish. Ganges, pp. 211, 380, pi. iii, f. 69. 

 Afflocheilus chrysostigmus and panchax, McClelland, Ind. Cyp. pp. 301, 426, pi. 42, f. 2. 

 Fanchux Buchanwni, Cuv. and Val. sviii, p. 383 ; Bleeker, Beng. p. 72, and Atl. Ich. Cyp. p. 141, t. 43, 

 f. 3 ; Blyth, Journ. As. Soc. Beng. 1858, p. 288. 



Faiichax Kiihlii, Cuv. and Val. xviii, p. 384. 



Panchax panchax, Cantor, Catal. p. 2.52. 



Fanchax melanoptems, Bleeker, Oost Java, p. 23, Snoek, p. 23, and Beng. p. 144. 



Haplochilus p>anchax, Giinther, Catal. vi, p, 311. 



Pantj-chax, Beng. : Kanalcuri and Bor-ro-ijuddi, Ooriah : Nga-sakl, Mugh. : Cho-to-dah, Andamanese. 



B. v-vi, D. 7-11, P. 15, V. 6, A. 15-17, C. 13, L. 1. 31-34, L. tr. 9-10. 



Length of head 4 to 4^, of caudal 6, height of body 4| to 5 in the total length. Eyes — diameter 3i- in 

 the length of head, 1 diameter from the end of snout, and 1| apart. Lower jaw rather tbe longer : the 

 maxilla reaches to below the first third of the eye. Teeth — with an enlarged outer row in the upper jaw : 

 in a broad band on the vomer. Fins — dorsal inserted above the last anal rays. In Calcutta specimens it 

 has 7 or 8, rarely more, rays : in those from the Andamans up to 11. Pectoral nearly as long as the head. 

 Ventral small and without any elongated ray. Anal neai-ly square. Caudal rounded. Colours — A white 

 occipital spot. Upper surface greenish, becoming dull white on the sides and beneath. Pins yellowish, the 

 lower third of dorsal covered with a large black spot. Dorsal, caudal, and anal margined with oi'ange. 



Ova very large. 



A variety exists on the Sind hills, and in Cutch which has less scales (28) along the lateral-line, and 

 numerous silvery spots along the sides, and a black spot behind the eye, the dorsal and anal fins are likewise 

 more elongated. 



Habitat. — From Orissa, through the lower province of Bengal, Burma, Siam to the Malay ArchijDelago, 

 also the Andamans. (? Also Sind hiUs.) It attains at least 3| inches in length. 



3x2 



