1920.] B. Prashad : Indian Torpedinidae. lor 



of the ventral or pelvic fins , but the eyes in this figure are shown 

 as being fairly large and prominent. The doubt was confirmed by 

 an examination of the original specimen, which is certainly a true 

 B. impennis. The eyes in the specimen are exactly as in normal 

 specimen of B. impennis, and Day's figures are wrong in this 

 particular. The second specimen from Da3^'s collection is from 

 Madras and is also a specimen of B. impennis. These are the only 

 speciraenss in Day's collection of fishes in Calcutta, and both belong 

 to B. impennis but were wrongly identified as Astrape dipterygia. 



In view of these facts, therefore, it seems a little doubtful 

 whether Day's description of A. dipterygia does not really apply 

 to B. impennis ; this fact unfortunately is, however, not easy to 

 decide, as in certain particulars, such as the proportions of the 

 tail and disc, his description does not apply to either species. 

 Both the specimens from Day's collection are in a poor state of 

 preservation and therefore give a very imperfect idea of the 

 normal appearance of Bengalichthys. In any case Day's identifica- 

 tion does not affect the nomenclature or taxonomic position of 

 either genus. As no complete description of N . dipterygia is avail- 

 able, I have thought it desirable to redescribe the species. 



Disc subcircular, slightly shorter than the tail, snout short, 

 rounded on the anterior margin. Nostrils small. Anterior valves 

 confluent, forming a quadrangular flap with concave lateral mar- 

 gins, rounded at the sides posteriorly and with a median projection ; 

 this flap is free posteriorly, extending back over the mouth and 

 covering the upper jaw entirely in both young and adult speci- 

 mens; posterior valves well developed with a free triangular 

 portion first curving backwards and then forwards in a half 

 loop-like manner, and lying in the concavities on the sides of the 

 anterior flap. Mouth small, protrusible, enclosed in a deep fold of 

 skin and divided by a median projection on both the jaws, that of 

 the lower jaw being more prominent than that of the upper. 

 Teeth small. Eyes small but prominent, a little less than half the 

 length of the spiracles. vSpiracles large, abutting on the eyes, 

 varying in outline according to the condition of preservation of 

 the specimens, with a smooth raised margin. Gill-openings small ; 

 the last one particularly reduced. Dorsal fin rounded along the 

 margins, with an elongated base, arising a httle in front of the 

 bases of the ventrals, and separated from the caudal by its basal 

 length. Tail slightly longer than half the total length, with a well 

 developed caudal, and a feebly developed fold on either side. 

 Subcaudal rounded; supracaudal much larger, rounded in some 

 specimens, in others ending in a point. Ventrals large; with a 

 concave outer margin in the young, becoming . nearly straight in 

 full grown individuals; arising below the pectorals. Claspers 

 short, stout, with a deep groove on the upper surface throughout 

 their length and another on the outer side extending to not more 

 than half the length. Pectorals broad, with straight fin-rays 

 showing through the skin. Electric organs kidney-shaped, extend- 

 ing to a little in front of the eyes, formed of irregular quadrangu- 



