FRESH-WATER FISHES OF SIAM, OR THAILAND 467 



4b. Lateral line scales 50 to 65. 



5a. Lateral line scales 50 to 55, dropping 3 rows at 14th to 16th perforated 

 scale; scales in transverse series 4 or 4.5-1-8 or 9; rows of scales 

 between eye and angle of preopercle 6 or 7 ; dark green or dark blue 

 above, yellowish brown or reddish brown below; a red band from 



snout to caudal fin in young melasomus 



5b. Lateral line scales 58 to 65 ; scales in transverse series 5 or 5.5-1-10 or 



11 ; rows of scales between eye and angle or preopercle 10 to 13. 



6a. Lateral line dropping 2 rows at 18th to 20th perforated scale; interor- 



bital space less than length of snout; brown above, yellow below, 



a double row of dark spots on side with a zigzag light stripe between 



the spots lucius 



6b. Lateral line dropping 1 row at 15th to 20th perforated scale ; interor- 

 bital space greater than length of snout ; olive green, with a light 

 stripe from eye to caudal fin, and a series of dark blotches above 

 light stripe and another below; three oblique brown bands on side 



of head sianiensis 



4c. Lateral line scales 82 to 95 [110 (Day) ] without an abrupt drop; scales in 

 transverse series 5.5 or 6.5-1-15 or 16 ; rows of scales between eye and 

 angle of preopercle 15 to 17 ; rows of scales on opercle 8 ; dark brown or 

 dark blue above, white below ; 2 narrow parallel black stripes extending 

 from eye and angle of mouth to tip of caudal fin, interspace I'ed (the 

 stripes breaking up into irregular spots and blotches in older ex- 

 amples) micropeltes 



OPHICEPHALUS MARULIUS Hamilton 



Ophiocephalus maruliufi Hamilton, 1822, pp. 65, 367, pi. 17, fig. 19 (India). — 



Kaeoli, 1882, p. 171 (Siam). 

 Ophicephalns maruUus Smith, 1934b, p. 324 (Bangkok, Kanburi, Pakjong). 



The range of this species extends from India to China. It is one 

 of the rarest of the serpent-heads found in Thailand, and is definitely 

 known from only two specimens. One, 27 cm., long was obtained in 

 Tonburi, Bangkok; the other, 40 cm. long, said to have come from 

 Kanburi, on the Meklong, in west-central Thailand, was exhibited alive 

 at a fair in Bangkok in December 1933. Karoli's record for "Siam" 

 may be accepted as authentic. The present writer's reference (1934b) 

 to numerous small specimens taken in May 1925 in headwaters of the 

 Menam Mun in Eastern Siam was incorrect : the species involved was 

 O. melaso'ina, q. v. A length of 4 feet is said to be attained in India. 



Hamilton (1822) noted of this fish that "in the lower parts of Ben- 

 gal, the persons dedicated to religion, from some old prejudice, think 

 it unlucky to say that it is either good or bad." Day (1878) quotes 

 Mason as stating : "Some of the Karens in Burma regard these fishes 

 with superstitious awe, and abstain from eating them. They have a 

 legend that they were formerly men, changed into fish for their sins, 

 and the Karens of Tavoy say, 'if people eat them, they will be trans- 

 formed into lions.' " 



