2-''.8 Brn.VA, ITS PEOPLE AXD PRODUCTIOXS. 



for their sins ; and the Pwo Karens at Tavoy say : ' If people eat tliem, they will he 

 transformed to lions.' The fame of this fish had reached Greece more than two 

 thousand years ago, for it is mentioned as a remarliable Indian tish by Theophrastus." 



OpniocKPHALUs, Bloch. 



Characters of the Family. 



0. MARULirs, Ham. Buch. 



Nga-yan-daing. 



B. v.; D. 45-55; P. 18 ; v. 6 ; A. 2830; C. 14. 



Teeth in numerous villiform hands, -with a posterior row of 12 large conical teeth 

 in the raandiblc. Colour variable with age and locality. Back greyish-green, the 

 immature with a brilliant orange band from the eye to the middle of the caudal fin, 

 but in the more mature 5 or 6 cloudy bands descend lielow the lateral line. Belly 

 orange, the scales darkest at the base. On the posterior third of body and on the 

 dorsal, anal and caudal fins are pearly white spots, and generally a black ocellus near 

 the tail. Caudal grey. Ventrals orange. Grows to 4 feet, and defends its J'oung 

 with vigour. 



Fresh waters in Burma and India. 



• 0. STEIATUS, Bloch. 

 Nga-yau-yonng-to. 

 B. V. ; D. 37-45; V. 17; Y. G ; A.23-2G; C. 13. 



An inner row of conical teeth in the mandible, and cardifoi-m ones on the 

 palatines. Dark greyish or blackish above, whitish or yellowisli white below. 

 Cheeks and lower surface of the mouth streaked and spotted with grey. Band of 

 grey over the belly. Ventral and anal fins greyish, with some white lines and spots on 

 the latter. In the young usually a dark caudal ocellus. Grows to 3 feet. 



Fresh waters in Burma and India, esjjecially swamps and grassy tanks. 



0. GACHUA, Ham. Buch. 



Nga-yan-pa-naw. 



B. v. ; D. 32-37 ; P. 15 ; V. 6 ; A. 21-23 ; C. 12. 



An inner row of distant conical teeth in the mandible. Colours variable, usually 

 greenish, paler below. Dorsal, caudal and anal slaty, with an orange margin. 

 Pectoral with a black base, and a slight reddish or orange edge. In the young there 

 is often a large ocidlus on the last five dorsal rays. Occasionally the body is spotted 

 ■with wdiite, or even orange. Grows to 13 inches or more. 



Burma. The An damans. 



0. PTTN'CT.ATUS, Bloch. 



Nga-yan-theng-ong. (Nga-ain, Arakan.) 



B. v.; D. 29-32; P. 17; V. 6 ; A. 21 23; C. 12. 



A posterior row of 4 or 5 conical teeth in the mandible. Colours variable. 

 Greenish above, yellowish on sides and belly. A dark stripe along the side of the 

 head, several dorsal cross-hands. Fins spotted. The caudal and vertical fins narrowly 

 light-edged. Ventrals whitish. In some there are scattered black spot.i. Grows to 

 a foot or so. 



Burma and India, in rivers and stagnant waters. 



FamUij Labyrintliici. 



Branchiostegals 4 to 6. Pseudobranchire J'udimentary or absent. Gills 4. Gill 

 opening rather narrow, the membranes united to tlu^ isthmus. Above the third or u])])er 

 portion of the first branchial arch, is a cavity containing an elaborate arrangement of 

 bony laminic, covered by a vascular mucous membrane, adapted for aerial respiration. 



