FRESH-WATER FISHES OF SIAM, OR THAILAND 65 



ilacrognathus argus Blekkfr, 1865 (347), p. 34 (Siarn) ; 1865 (356), p. 174 

 (Siam). 



This species appears to be peculiar to Thailand and it is rare. It 

 was described from a specimen 9 inches long collected by Mouhot, 

 listed in the British Museum catalog as from "fresh waters of Siam." 

 Another specimen from Thailand in the same museum was collected 

 by Newman. Von Martens described and figured life size in color 

 a specimen from Bangkok. Bleeker (1865) [347, 356] recorded the 

 species as represented in a collection from Thailand sent to Paris 

 by Bocourt, and Sauvage (1883b) listed it among fishes from the 

 Menam Chao Phya collected by Harmand. The only recent men- 

 tion of the taking of specimens is by Hora (1924a) and Fowler 

 (1935a, 1939). The former cited one fish taken at the mouth of the 

 Patalung Eiver in the inner lake of the Tale Sap by Dr. Annandale, 

 who stated that when fresh the specimen was dark olive-green with 

 blood-red markings. Fowler gave a good description and figured 

 four color variations in specimens from Bangkok and cited a speci- 

 men 38 cm. long from Krabi in Peninsular Siam. Preserved speci- 

 mens are described as having a brown body marked by white bands 

 on head, several rows of round white spots on body, a white margin 

 to vertical fins, and a dark blotch at base of pectoral fin. 



MASTOCEMBELUS CIRCUMCINCTUS Hora 

 FlQUKE 2 



Mastacembelus circumcinctus Hora, 1924a, p. 475, fig. 3 (Patalung River, Tale 

 Sap). 



This strongly marked species seems to be peculiar to Peninsular 

 Thailand. The type and only specimen seen by Hora came from the 

 inner lake of the Tale Sap and was about 16 cm. long. The present 

 writer collected a specimen, 17 cm. long, in the same water on October 

 9, 1923, another, 16 cm. long, in the Tale Noi, October 8, 1923, and 

 two specimens, 8 and 9.2 cm. long, in Klong Nakon Noi in the town 

 of Nakon Sritamarat, July 17, 1928. 



Figure 2. — Mastacembelus circumcinctus Hora. Drawn by Nai Chote Suvatti; courtesy of 



the Thailand Government. 



Fishes of very similar appearance observed in the Chantabun dis- 

 trict of Southeastern Thailand apparently are referable to M. 

 tosniaQ aster. 



