258 BURMA, ITS PEOPLE AXD PRODUCTTOiVK 



Heail ?liap:iTcned above, with fine j;'i'anuk:s. On the licad are 2 depressions, tlic 

 anterior oblong, falling partly between tlie eyes, the posterior oval between the anterior 

 fossa and the occipital process. Dingy green, or brownish above, lighter below. Tlie 

 vertical fins usually with reddish margins. Grows to lA feet. 



Burma. 



It lives long after being removed fi-om water, and its flesli is esteemed highly 

 nourishing. 



SACcoBKANcnrs, Cuvier et Valeticiennes. 



Gill cavity with an accessory posterior sac, extending backwards on either side 

 of the neural spines amongst the muscles of the abdominal and jiart of tlie caudal 

 region. Head depressed. Eyes with a free circular margin. ]5arbels 8. Air-vessel 

 placed transversely across the bodies of the anterior vertebra, where it is inclosed by 

 bone ; a duct passes up from either side of the air-vessel, unites and opens into the 

 inferior surface of the pharynx. Dorsal short, spineless. Ventral short. Anal long. 



>S. FossiLis, Bloch. 



Nga-gyi. 



D. 6-7; P. I; V. 6 ; A. CO-79; C. 19. 



Anal and caudal separated by a notch. Cohjur plumbeous, with sometimes two 

 longitudinal yellowish bauds. The young sometimes reddish. Eggs pea-green. 

 Grows to a foot or more. 



Rivers and ponds in Burma. 



"Wounds from the pectoral spine of this fish are horribly tkeaded by the fisherman, 

 as they are supposed to be poisonoiis and to cause tetanus ; the spines are therefore 

 invaiiably broken off on capture. Its flesh is highly esteemed for its invigorating 

 properties, and tanks are often stocked with this fish in consequence. 



2. Ati adipose dorsal fn. 



SiLUXDiA, Cuvier et Valertciennes. 



Body elongated and compressed. Eyes lateral, with narrow adipose lids. The 

 nostrils on either side approximating, the autia-ior pair in liont of the snout and 

 a little external to the posterior pair. A paii' of maxillary and sometimes a pair of 

 mandibular barbels. Yilliform teeth on the jaws and in an uninteriupted band on 

 the palate. An axillary pore. Air-vessel reniform, convex before, lying across the 

 body of an anterior vertebra, with the aorta between, and having its lateral margin 

 protected by bone. 



S. Gangetica, Cuv. et Val. 



D. |-0; P. -rP-^; V. 6; A. 40-46; C. 17. 

 Barbels a single pair of minute maxillary ones. 



Bluish above, silvery below. Eins stained with grey. Grows to 6 feet or more. 

 The larger rivers of Burma and India. 



EuTEOPncHTHTS, Bleekev. 



Body and head compressed. Head covered with a soft skin. Eyes with broad 

 adipose lids. Gape de(!p, upper jaw slightly the longer. Nostrils wide and patent, 

 tlie anterior outermost and lateral. Barbels 8. Teeth on jaws sharp, and also on 

 the vomer and palatines. Air-vessel tubiform, lying across the body of an anterior 

 vertebra, with the aorta intervening and protected by bone. No axillary pore. 



E. vACHA, Ham. Buch. 

 Var. BuBMANicns, Day. 

 Ka-tha-boung and Nga-mycn-kon-ban. 



B. xi.; D. 1-0; P. T^rVr ; V. C; A. A— Vi C. 17. 



The nasal barbels reach the hind edge of head or further, ilaxillary ones as 

 long as the head. The mandibular imes shorter. Ventral reaches half-«ay to the 

 anal. Silvery, greyish along the back. Pectoral and caudal usually black-edged. •■ 



