FAMILY, V— CTPRINID^. 609 



Genus, 4 — Lepidocephalichthts, Bleeker. 



Platacanthus, Day ; Misgurnus, sp. Giinther. 



Body elongated and moderately compressed, hack not elevated. Six or eight barbels, four of ivliich belong to 

 the mandibles. A large, erectile, bifid, suborbital spine. The sub- and post-orbital regions, and also the upper part of 

 the opercle scaled. Dorsal fin shoii, commencing opposite, or nearly so, to the ventral ; the internal ray of the pectoral 

 fin may he modified into a. flat osseous spine ; caudal truncate or slightly emarginate. 



As regards the barbels in this genus, it must be remarked that on either side of the mandible is a skinny 

 flap, ending internally in a barbel, and externally being connected to the maxillary barbel. Along the outer 

 edge of this flap, short barbels to the number of two or three, are generally developed. 



This genus is separated from Gohitis not only by the mandibular flap being provided with barbels, but 

 also due to the existence of scales on the head, in the sub- and post-opercular regions. The pectoral ray 

 modified into a spine which exists in this genus, and also in Jerdonia, and in the European Gohitis twnia, is 

 employed for digging into the sand, in which way they rapidly bury themselves on the approach of danger as I 

 have frequently observed in an aquarium. 



Geographical distribution. — India, Burma, Ceylon, and the Malay Archipelago. 



SYNOPSIS OF SPECIES. 



1. Lepidocephalichihys guntea, J). 8, A. 7, L. 1. 115. Length of head 6^ to 6f in the total. 25 to 30 

 rows of scales between the base of the anal fin and the back. India, except the Malabar coast and south of the 

 Kistna. 



2. Lepidocephalichthys thermalis. D. 8, A. 7. Length of head 5i in the total. 30 to 40 rows of scales 

 between base of anal fin and the back. Southern India, Malabar, and Ceylon. 



3. Lepidocephalichthys Berdmorei. D. 8, A. 7-8. Length of head G to 6i in the total. About 40 rows 

 of scales between base of anal fin and the back. Bnrma. 



1. Lepidocephaliclitliys guntea, Plate CLV, fig. 4. 



Cobitis guntea. Ham. Buch. Fish. Ganges, pp. 353, 394; McClelland, Tnd. Cyp. pp. 303, 434, t. 51, f. 3 

 (from H.B.'s MSS.) ; Cuv. and Val. xviii, p. 67 ; Bleeker, Beng. p. 70 ; Giinther, Catal. vii, p. 363; Day, Proc. 

 Zool. Soc. 1869, p. 383. 



? Cobitis phoxocheila, McClelland, Ind. Cyp. pp. 305, 439, t. 52. f. 4 (young) ; Cuv. and Val. xvii, p. 79 ; 

 Bleeker, Beng. p. 70. 



Cobitis niaya, Sykes, Trans. Zool. Soc. ii, p. 367. 



Canthophrys vittatus, Swainson, Fishes, ii, p. 310. 



Misgurnus lateralis, Giinther, Catal. vii, p. 346. 



Kondaturi and GupTcari, Ooriah. 



B. iii, D. 8-9(-j?t). P- 8, V. 7-8, A. 7(|), C. 16, L. 1. ca. 115. 



Length of head 6J to 6|, of caudal 6, height of body 5f to &\ in the total length, i^j/e.;— situated rather 

 . before the middle of the length of the head, diameter 1/5 of length of head, Ii diameters from end of snout, 

 and one diameter apart. Body compressed. Barbels — two rostral and a maxillary pair, all longer than the 

 orbit : a fleshy flap from the lower surface of the mandibles on either side joins the maxillary barbel, and each 

 has one or two barbels along its edge. Fins — dorsal arises midway between the orbit and the base of the caudal 

 fin : caudal generally entire, its centre rays however, may be somewhat shortened or even lengthened. Inner 

 pectoral ray sometimes modified into a flat spine having a branched termination. Scales — distinct, and covering 

 not only the suborbital ring of bones on the head but also going in a band from the eye to above the opercles : 

 25 to 30 rows between the base of the anal fin and the back. Lateral-line — absent. Colours — generally dirty 

 yellowish, with a light band extending from the centre of the snout, and ending in a black ocellus above the 

 middle of the base of the caudal fin ; below this band are a series of dark blotches festooned interiorly, whilst 

 the back is similarly marked. Dorsal and caudal with numerous rows of dark spots, but only about 4 on the 

 caudal in Deccan examples, and often two rows on the anal fin. 



Variety, L. balgara, Plate CLVI, fig. 12. 



Cobitis balgara. Ham. Buch. Fish. Gang. pp. 356, 394 ; Cuv. and Val. xviii, p. 74. 



Schistura balgara and aculeata, McClell. Ind. Cy]). p. 307, pi. 53, f. 2 (from H.B.'s MSS.) ; Cuv. and 

 Val. xviii, p. 70 ; Bleeker, Beng, p. 70. 



Canthophrys olivaceus, Swainson, Fishes, ii, p. 310. 



Lepidocephalichthys balgara, Giinther, Catal. vii, p. 365 ; Day, P. Z. S. 1870, p. 70. 



Juhhi cowri, Ooriah. 



This closely resembles the above but has its body a little more elongated, and its caudal fin is sometimes 

 cut rather more square : in a few examples the ventral fin is slightly in advance of the dorsal but not so in 

 others. 



Occasionally, examples after having been kept some time in spirit, show a brownish back separated from a 



4 I 



