I 



606 PHYSOSTOi[I. 



A. — With an erectile spine near the orhit. 



Genus, 1 — BoTiA, Gray. 

 Hymenopkysa and Schistura, McClelland : Diacanthus, Swainson : Spicrossus, Blytb. 



Body oblong, compressed, with the dorsal profile more or less elevated. Eye xvith a free, circular eyelid. 

 Barbels six to eight : four on the snout united at their bases, tivo 07i the upper jaw, if eight the extra ones are on the 

 mandibles. A bifid, erectile, suborbital spine present. Dorsal fin comm.e7ices anterior to the root of the ventral; caudal 

 forked. No scales on the head. Air-bladder in two divisions, the anterior being partially enclosed in a bony capsule, 

 whilst the posterior portion is free in the abdominal cavity. 



Hamilton Buchanan observes of the Loaches, " those which are striped are more beautiful fishes (than 

 those with cloud-like marks) resembling the appearance of the others but slightly, and differing a good deal in 

 habits, especially in swimming higher and in not remaining so stationary at the bottom," p. 349. 



Geographical distribution. — Found throughout the Valley of the Ganges, the Sind hills, the Himalayas, 

 Assam, Burma to the Malay Archipelago. 



SYNOPSIS OF SPECIES. 



1. Botia nebulosa. D. 15, A. 7. Barbels sis. Dai-jeeling. 



2. Botia dario. D. 12-13, A. 7-8. Barbels eight. Bengal, N. W. Provinces, Assam and Cachar. 



3. Botia geto. D. 13, A. 7. Barbels eight. Sind, Punjab, Himalayas, Valley of Ganges and Assam. 



4. Botia Almorhce. D. 11-12, A. 7-8. Barbels eight. Himalayas and Khasia hills. 



5. Botia Berdmorei. D. 13-15, A. 7. Barbels eight. Burma and Tenasserim. 



6. Botia histrionica. D. 10, A. 7. Barbels eight. Pegu. 



1. Botia nebulosa. 



Blyth, Proc. A. S. of Beng. 18G0, p. 165 ; Day, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1869, p. 550. 



B. iii, D. 15(tV), P. 13, V. 8, A. 7(1), C. 17. 



Length of head 5, of caudal 5, height of body 5 in the total length. Eyes — in the middle of the length 

 of head : 2 diameters from end of snout and also apart. Profile of back slightly elevated. A bifid erectile 

 spine below the orbit.* Barbels — two rostral pairs extending as far as to the anterior margin of the 

 orbit, whilst the maxillary ones are slightly longer. Fins — dorsal commences midway between the base of the 

 caudal and the snout, and opposite the end of the pectoral. Ventral commences under the sixth dorsal ray. 

 Caudal lobes slightly rounded. Scales — small, 13 rows between the lateral line and the base of the ventral fin. 

 Colours — brownish, with a leaden band along the side. Dorsal and caudal barred in spots. An ocellus at the 

 upper margin of the base of the caudal fin. 



Habitat. — Darjeeling, from whence Dr. Wallich sent an example, 45- inches long, to the Calcutta 

 Museum. 



2. Botia dario, Plate CLIV, fig. 1. 



Cobitis dario. Ham. Bnch. Fish. Ganges, pp. 354, 394, pi. 29, f. 95 ; Cuv. and Val. xviii, p. 85 ; Bleeker, 

 Beng. pp. 70, 143. 



Schistiira dario, McClell. Ind. Cyp. pp. 306, 444, pi. 61, f. 8. 

 Biacantha fiavicauda, Swainson, Fishes, ii, p. 310. 

 Botia dario, Giinther, Catal. vii, p. 366. 

 Sahinga, Punj. ; Bucktea, Hind. 



B. iii, D. 12-13(^.4^), P. 14, V. 8, A. 7-8(^»^), C. 19. 



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

 middle of the length of the head, 5 diameters in the length of the head, 2 to 2h diameters from the end of snout, 

 and 2 apart. Snout rather obtuse. Suborbital spine reaches to below the hind edge of the eye. Barbels — 

 eight. Posterior portion of air-vessel free in the abdominal cavity. Fins — dorsal commences midwaj' between 

 the end of the snout and the base of the caudal tin. Scales — very indistinct. Colours — seven or eight oblique 

 bands descend from the back to the abdomen, and two or three, or even more, cross either lobe of the caudal 

 fin. 



Habitat. — Bengal, N. W. Provinces, Assam, and Cachar. 



3. Botia geto, Plate CLIV, fig. 2. 



Cobitis geto, Ham. Buch. Fish. Ganges, pp. 355, 394, pi. xi, f. 96 ; Cuv. and Val. xvii, p. 84. ; Bleeker, 

 Beng. p. 70. 



Schistura geto, McClelland, Ind. Cyp. pp. 306, 444, pi. 61, f. 9. 

 Biacantha zebra, Swainson, Fishes, ii, p. 310. 

 Botia rostrata, Giinther, Catal. vii, p. 367. 

 Shee-nharo, Sind. 



• The suborbital spiue was damaged in the uuique example. 



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