2. CHANNA. 483 



2. CHANNA. 



Channa, Gronov. Zoophyl. p. Vio. 



Ventral fins none. Pyloric appendages none. Fine teeth in the 

 jaws, on the vomer and the palatine bones, intermixed with larger 

 ones in the lower jaw. 



Fresh waters of Ceylon. 



This genus, known to Gronow and Schneider, has not been recog- 

 nized by recent authors. The tj'pical specimen is not preserved in 

 Gronow's Collection. 



1. Channa orientalis. 



Channa, sp., Gronor. Zvmhyl. p. 135. tab. 9. fig. 1. 

 Chanua orientali8, Bl. Schn. p. 496. tab. 90. fig. 2. 

 indica, Gronov. Syst. ed. Gray, p. 100. 



D. 34. A. 22. L. lat. 41. L. transv. 3/8. 



The height of the body is contained eight times in the total length, 

 the length of the head four times and a third, the length of the 

 caudal five times. The interorbital space is very slightly convex, 

 and its width is contained thrice and two-fifths in the length of the 

 head. Snout rather obtuse ; cleft of the mouth wide, the maxillary 

 extending behind the orbit. Several teeth in the lower jaw larger 

 than the rest ; those of the vomer and the palatine bones in a single 

 series. The length of the pectoral equals the distance of the end of 

 the operculum from the orbit. Dark greenish-olive, indistinctly 

 spotted vsdth blackish. Fins with blackish spots. 



Ceylon. 



a, h, c-e, f-h. Adult, half-grown, and young. Ceylon. Purchased 

 of Mr. Cuming. 



The accessory respiratory organ is very little complicated : it is a 

 cavity, the opening of which is partly closed by a fold of the mucous 

 membrane of the upper pharyngeal bone, by another of the upper 

 portion of the first branchial arch, and finally by a lamelliform pro- 

 cess of the epitympanic. 



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