1. oPHiocEPnALrs. 477 



the interorbital space is more thau the extent of the snout, and one- 

 fourth of the length of the head. The cleft of the mouth is ^dde, 

 the maxillaiy extending behind the orbit. The scales on the upper 

 sm-face of the head are of moderate size, those on the neck small; there 

 are thii-teen series of scales between the orbit and the angle of the 

 praeoperculum. The pectoral does not extend on to the origin of the 

 anal, and its length is one-half of that of the head ; the length of 

 the ventral is three-quarters of that of the pectoral. Caudal rounded, 

 its length being six times and a third in the total. Blackish, lighter 

 below, with dark streaks along the series of scales ; a series of black 

 blotches along the side ; head with two indistinct oblique dark stripes 

 on the side; vertical fins blackish, the dorsal -with oblique black 

 spots along its base. Pectoral and ventral variegated with blackish. 

 Chin black, with white spots. 

 Length seventy-seven lines. 



16. OpMocephalus barca. 



Buck. Ham. Fishes of the Gaiujes, p. 67. pi. 35. fig. 20, cop. in Cuv. Sf 

 Val. vii. p. 436. 



D. 50-52. A. 35-36. L. lat. 62. L. transv. 5/11. 



A row of large teeth in the lower jaw, on the vomer and the 

 palatine bones. The height of the body is one-seventh of the total 

 length, the length of the head one-foiu'th, that of the caudal one- 

 fifth. The width of the interorbital space is much more than the 

 extent of the snout, and two-sevenths of the length of the head. 

 Cleft of the mouth large, the maxillary extending behind the orbit. 

 There are nine series of scales between the orbit and the angle of 

 the pricoperculiun. The pectoral does not quite extend to the origin 

 of the anal fin, its length being more than one-half of that of the 

 head ; the length of the ventral is two-fifths of that of the pectoral. 

 Dark violet (in spirits), dotted all over with black ; the dorsal and 

 anal fins with numerous short cross-stripes on the membrane between 

 the rays ; pectoral black-dotted, ventral violet. 



Fresh waters of Bengal. 



a. Adult. Calcutta. From the Collection of Messrs. von Sclila- 

 gintweit. 



17. OpMocephalus nigricans. 

 Cm\ ^- Val vii. p. 431. 



D. 50. A. 34. 



Large teeth in the lower jaw, on the vomer and the palatine 

 bones. The height of the body is one-ninth of the total length, 

 the length of the head two-ninths. Cleft of the mouth large. 

 Brownish-black, with some indistinct darker cross-bands on the 

 back ; dorsal and caudal black, pectoral and anal ■with numerous 

 transparent dots ; ventrals greyish. {Val.) 



East Indies. 



