540 BULLETIN 188, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



talented Tliai artist Luang Masya Chitrakarn, was presented to her 

 majesty. The painting represented several life-size examples of the 

 fish in their natural habitat. (See Journ. Siam Soc, vol. 20, pp. 

 253-254, 1935.) 



VAIMOSA CHULAE H. M, Smith 



Vaimosa chulac Smith, 1932a, p. 260, pi. 23, fig. 3 (Koh Samui and Southeastern 

 Siam).— Fowler, 1937, p. 251, fig. 262 (Tachin). 



This little fish, which reaches a maximum size of about 4 cm., has 

 been found in various places around the Gulf of Siam. The type and 

 paratypes came from a bi'ackish pool on Koh Samui ; other specimens 

 have been examined from the Chantabun Estuary and the lower Tachin 

 Eiver. Some fish as small as 2.7 cm. in total length are fully mature, 

 as shown by the presence of well-developed ova. A paratype in the 

 U. S. National Museum bears the number 119645. 



The fish is strikingly colored. The blackish brown lines that cover 

 the body with a peculiar pattern, having a tendency to form about 6 

 irregular cross stripes, contrast strongly with the pale yellow back- 

 ground and the orange belly ; a blackish brown bar, extending forward 

 and upward from the base of each pectoral to the back, is joined with 

 its fellow by a thin stripe across the back; the muzzle, opercles, and 

 lower jaw are i^lumbeous; the spinous dorsal fin has an oblique black 

 median band, a black area at the base of the first 2 or 3 membranes 

 and another on the distal part of the second membrane; second dorsal 

 with black spots at its base, a line of roundish black spots across its 

 basal part, and a black band or stripe across its distal half, its outer 

 hyaline part with a dusky edge; caudal membranes blackish; anal 

 dusky to black, its narrow margin hyaline. 



The sexes are similar, but the vertical fins are less developed in the 

 females, which lack the greatly produced filamentous tips of the second 

 and third dorsal spines observed in adult males, as shown in the figure 

 of the type. 



VAIMOSA SIAMENSIS Fowler 



Vaimosa siamensis Fowlee, 1934a, p. 157, fig. 125 (Bangkok). — Fowleb, 1935a, 

 p. 161 (Bangkok). 



Described from a single specimen, 4 cm. long, from the Silom Canal 

 in Bangkok, this fish was subsequently made known by Fowler from 

 three specimens 3.5 to 3.7 cm. long from the same locality. It was 

 found by the writer to be common in several other Bangkok canals, and 

 40 specimens 1.8 to 3.8 cm. long were preserved from the Bang Kapi 

 Canal in May 1934. The Bangpakong River is also a habitat of the 

 fish. 



The species may be known by the large mouth (extending under 

 posterior edge of eye) , slightly protruding lower jaw ; swollen cheeks ; 



