262 Records of the Indian Museum. [Vor XH 
disturbed, it rapidly darts about and suddenly strikes the bottom 
sand head-forwards, diving into it by sheer force. A favourite 
position for the fish is to lie buried with just the snout and the tail 
above the surface of the sand; often the latter is also concealed 
and the snout is withdrawn at the approach of danger, only to 
reappear almost immediately. 
Branchial respiration appears to be insufficient in this loach. 
In an aquarium it grows restless at varying intervals, and rises to 
the surface to take air, which is apparently swallowed; conse- 
quently it lives for a long time out of water. 
The erectile sub-orbital spine appears to be an organ of de- 
fence ; when the fish is seized by the tail it rapidly swings round 
and dashes its head against the hand, when the prick of the erected 
spine is felt. 
The breeding season extends from October to January, when 
the young, which resemble the adult, are quite common every- 
where in shallow collections of rain-water. 
Uses.—Though small it is considered very nourishing. 
Clarius batrachus (Lin.) ! 
(Clarius magur (H. B.) of the Fauna of British India.) 
Tamil.—K aruppu theli (theli=scorpion, has reference to the poison- 
ous pectoral spines). 
Habitat and Habits.—C. batrachus is rare in Madras. It in- 
habits fresh and brackish water. 
Like most Silurids it is sluggish and prefers muddy to clear 
water. It lives and feeds at the bottom of ponds and rivers, and 
in the mud sometimes lies concealed for hours, with no movements 
save those of respiration and the constant lashing of its barbels, 
which appear to be its chief organs of perception. Experiments 
in an aquarium seem to prove that this fish is practically blind to 
objects beyond the reach of its barbels. The colour is eminently 
protective and effectively conceals the fish in dark muddy sur- 
roundings. 
As is well known C. batrachus is amphibious, possessing an ac- 
cessory breathing organ; it lives a considerable time out of water. 
The pectoral spines in this species are not dreaded. 
Uses.—C., batrachus reaches a length of a foot and a half and 
is considered as wholesome and nourishing food. The air-bladder 
yields a coarse isinglass.” 
Saccobranchus fossilis (Bloch). 
Tamil—Thélv. 
Cuvier and Vallenciennes in 1840 identified S. fossz/is (Bloch) 
with S. Bee ee B.).2 Gunther in 1864 held the two to be dis- 


t Max Weber and De Beaufort, Jdo-Australian Fishes, 11, p.190. (Linné, 
Syst. Nat., 1758, Pp. 305). 
9) 
2 Day, Fishes of India, p. 485. 3 Hist. Nat. des Pots., XV, p. 207. 
