218 siluhiii.t;. 



SG. CALLOMYSTAX. 



Two dorsal fins, the anterior with a strong spine, the posterior 

 adipose ; anal rather short. Teeth in hoth jaws minute ; palate 

 edentulous ; mouth small, transverse, at the lower side of the snout, 

 the intormaxillaries and mandibularies being short, small. Barbels 

 eight : those of the maxillaries arc osseous to some extent, and pro- 

 vided ■«'ith a broad basal membrane ; nasal barbels short, attached 

 to the flap covering the posterior nostril ; two pairs of mandibulary 

 barbels inserted in a transverse series immediately behind the margin 

 of the lower lip. Anterior and posterior nostrils close together. Eyes 

 ui moderate size, without free orbital margin. The upper side of the 

 head with longitudinal ridges, which are covered with thin skin. 

 Gill-openings of moderate width, the giU-membranes being confluent 

 with the skin of the isthmus. Veutrals six-rayed, inserted behind 

 the dorsal. 



Bengal. 



1. Callomystax gagata. 



Pinielodus gagata, Sam. Buck. Fish. Gang. pp. 197, 379. pi. 39. fig. 65. 

 Gagata typus, Bleek. Neclerl. Tydsch: Di'erk. 1863, p. 90 *. 



B. 6. D. 1/6. A. 15. P. 1/9. V. 6. 



Head and body compressed ; the height of the body is two-sevenths 

 of the total length (vvithout caudal), the length of the head two- 

 ninths ; head higher than broad, with the upper profile convex and 

 with the snout subconical. The occipital process is narrow, and ' 

 extends nearly to the basal bone of the dorsal spine ; the fonticulus 

 on the upper side of the head is uninterruptedly continued along the 

 whole length of the occipital process ; eye lateral, in the middle, and 

 one-fifth of the length, of the head. Nasal barbels very small ; the 

 maxillary barbels extend to the end of the head, the outer ones of 

 the mandible to the gill-opening. The giU-opening extends down- 

 wards to the throat, and is separate from the other by a rather narrow 

 isthmus. Dorsal fin high ; its spine is as long as the head, serrated 

 in front, and entire behind. Adipose fin as long as dorsal ; caudal 

 deeply forked. Pectoral sjiine as strong and nearly as long as that 

 of the dorsal fin. All the fins black with whitish base, except the 

 caudal, which is whitish. Young specimens with oblique blaclcish 

 bands across the back, and the dorsal and caudal fins. 



Ganges. 

 a-e. Types of the species. Presented by G. 11. Waterhouse, Esq. 



* Dr. V. Bleeker does not appear to have been acquainted with this fish, so 

 that not only tlie characters of the genus wliich he proposed for it are incorrect, 

 but it is also improperly referred to the " Phalanx" of Arii, and to the " Stirps" 

 of Bagrini. 



