FRESH-WATER FISHES OF SIAM, OR THAILAND 291 



iiarily the black stripe does not divide but extends in an unbroken 

 band to the base of the dorsal rays, and (2) the inclusion in the caudal 

 peduncular cross band of a circular spot of the general color of the 

 body. 



Fowler (1934:a) published two figures of B. modesta showing a 

 black median dorsal stripe extending from tip of snout to base of 

 caudal and a black transverse band on caudal peduncle. In a later 

 paper (1937), however, he refers these figures and the specimens on 

 which they are based to B. horae. 



BOTIA LECONTEI Fowler 

 Botia lecontei Fowlee, 1937, p. 156, figs. 71-74 (Kemarat). 



Known from a single specimen, 10 cm. long, from the Mekong at 

 Kemarat, Eastern Thailand. The features that are said to distinguish 

 this fish from B. modesta are a more slender body (depth 3.5 in length 

 as against 2.7 to 3.5 in modesta) and a dark blotch at the caudal base 

 (lacking in modesta). Another apparent difference is the position of 

 the dorsal fin, as indicated in the key. 



BOTIA MODESTA Bleeker 



Botia modesta Bleeker, 1865 (343), p. 11 (Siam) ; 1865 (347), p. 35 (Siam) ; 

 1865 (356), p. 175 (Siam).— Gunthee, 187S, vol. 7, p. 368 (Siam).— Sauvage, 

 1881, p. 164 (Menam, Pachebon) ; 1883b, p. 154 (Menam Chao Phya).— Hoea, 

 1922, p. 317 (Siam) ; 1923b, p. 148 (Nontaburi).— Fowler, 1934a, p. 101, figs. 

 53, 54 (these figures representing B. horae, fide Fowler, 1937, p. 154) (Chieng- 

 mai) ; 1935a, p. 106, fig. 33 (Bangkok) ; 1937, p. 156 (Pitsanulok, Kemarat). 



The range of B. inodesta in Thailand extends from the upper Mep- 

 ing at Chiengmai to the lower Menam Chao Phya at or below Bang- 

 kok, and from the Mekong to the Meklong. The fish abounds in the 

 lower Menam Sak below the barrage at Dha Luang. It is exceed- 

 ingly abundant in Bung Borapet and other waters in the Paknampo 

 region. Specimens are at hand from the Meklong and from its eastern 

 branch near the town of Kanburi. In Eastern Thailand the fish has 

 been collected in the Menam Chi and the Menam Pong in the province 

 of Udon, and there is also a record for the Mekong at Kemarat. Speci- 

 mens in the British Museum are from Pechabun on the upper Pasak 

 River (Mouhot collection) and from the upper Bangpakong River 

 (from Siamese Museum). 



y The general body color ranges from rich gray-blue to gray-green, 

 bluish green, yellow, and salmon, with the belly pale yellow or white. 

 All the fins may be bright orange, orange-rpd, or yellow, with the ven- 

 trals usually paler than the others. The iris is yellow, orange, or red. 

 In the young there are four or five broad black cross bands on back 

 and side, with about the same number of narrower intervening bands ; 



