XVIII. FISH. 



By B. L. Chaudhuri, B.A., B.Sc. {Edin.), F.R.S.E., F.L.S., 

 Assistant Superintendent, Indian Museum. 



(Plate vii — ix.) 



The total number of species of fish collected in the course of the 

 Abor Expedition is forty- three, among which there is a mountain - 

 loach representing a new genus. The discovery of this new genus 

 affords some indication of the richness of the unexplored Hima- 

 layan fauna of the N. E. Frontier of India. There are also three 

 new species and two new varieties of known generic groups, one 

 of which belongs to Himalayan and sub-Himalayan districts, while 

 the rest are of rather extended distribution. Nearly half the 

 species collected have a very wide range ^ which includes Assam 

 and Burma on the one hand and more westerly districts on the 

 other. This was to be expected, a.s collecting commenced at 

 Dibrugarh. Four species, viz. Oreinus sinuatus (Heckel), Oreinus 

 richardsonii (Gray), Oreinus plagiostomus (Heckel) and Schizo- 

 thorax progastus (McClelL), represent a Himalayan or sub-Hima- 

 layan element; four species, viz. Exostoma lahiatum (McClell,), 

 Amblyceps mangois (H-.B.). Barbus chola (H.B.), Danio aequipin- 

 natus (McClell.) occur, among other places, both in Assam and 

 Burma. Of these latter the rare species Exostoma lahiatum had 

 been previously reported only from the Mishmi country and 

 from Burma. Seven species, viz. Barbus hexastichus, McClell., 

 Barbus hexagonolepis, McClell., Barbus sophore (H. B.), Labia 

 dyochilus (McClell.), Pseudecheneis sulcatus (McClell.), as well as 

 Danio aequipinnatus and Exostoma labiatum, show the prepon- 

 derating Assamese (as distinct from Himalayan) character of the 

 fish- collection from the Abor country. One young eel of two 

 inches and a half in length, found under a stone in a stream at 

 an altitude of 2000 ft,, is very interesting; adult specimens of 

 the same species were found in numbers buried in the mud of 

 a stream at a lower altitude. The collection includes one species 

 previouslv reported from Eastern Tibet only, viz. Exostoma 

 davidi. This perhaps indicates some influence of the fauna of 

 Eastern Tibet on that of the North-East Frontier of India. 



List op the Species obtained. 



1. Aborichthys kempi, gen et sp nov. 



2. Lepidocephalichthys guntea (H. B.). 



3. Discognaihus lamta (H. B.). 



