102. ERETHISTES. 263 



pair of minute barbels between these two flaps. The upper jaw 

 projects beyond the lower. 



The eyes are small, directed upwards, rather longer than high, 

 with the pupil horizontal and elliptic ; the distance between them is 

 equal to two of their diameters. Nostrils round, open, close togethe* , 

 separated by a small lobe, and situated somewhat nearer to the eye 

 than to the end of the snout. 



The occipital and suprascapulary processes are of equal length, 

 about one-third as long as the snout ; the humeral bones form a broad 

 sutui-e together, and are prolonged behind into a process situated on 

 each side of the thorax and extending beyond the root of the pectoral ; 

 all the lower parts of the humeri are covered with skin. A series of 

 osseous plates commences before the dorsal, and is continued to the 

 root of the caudal : the first is the largest and trilobate, the central 

 lobe extending forward, but not touching the occipital process ; five 

 plates along each side of the base of the dorsal fin ; all the following 

 plates with a central, sharp, longitudinal ridge; about the ninth 

 plate has its ridge terminating in a short immoveable spine pointing 

 backwards*. The lateral line is covered with small, irregular rough- 

 nesses, the remainder of the body being naked. The extremity of 

 the tail is angular and rather broader than high. 



Dorsal fin rather higher than long ; its first ray is feeble, finely ser- 

 rated in front, and two-thirds of the length of the head. Anal fin 

 somewhat nearer to the vent than to the root of the caudal. Caudal 

 fin slightly forked ; its uppermost ray is strong, and may be as long 

 as the body. The pectoral fin does not quite reach to the root of 

 the ventral ; its spine is strong, compressed, slightly bent, with an 

 outer serrated edge. The ventral terminates at a great distance from 

 the anal fin, the vent being in the middle of its length. Brownish, 

 marbled with darker. 



102. ERETHISTES. 



Erethistes, Mull. Sf Trosch. Hor. Ichthyol. iii. p. 12. 



Head and trunk broad, tail thin ; head large, with osseous, rough 

 ridges ; occipital, scapular, and humero-cubital processes not covered 

 by the skin. Dorsal fin rather short, with a strong spine and with 

 six soft rays ; adipose and anal fins short ; ventrals six-rayed, inserted 

 below the dorsal. Body with minute tubercles arranged in longitu- 

 dinal series. Eyes small. Mouth small, inferior, with small teeth 

 in both jaws ; palate toothless. Apparently a small barbel to each 

 maxillary ; no other barbels. 



Assam. 



Although I have not seen this fish, I conclude, from the characters 

 given by Miiller and Troschel, that it is allied to Sisor ; consequently 

 that it has the nostrils placed close together, and that it has probably 

 mandibulary flaps, which, however, must be much less developed than 

 in Sisor, as no mention of them is made in the original description. 



* This spine has been considered by Hamilton as a second fin. 



