I92I.J S. L. HORA : Fish of Manifur. 201 



Some female specimens on dissection were found to contain 



eggs. 



Measurements in millimetres. 



Nemachilus sikmaiensis, sp. nov. 



Plate IX, fig. 4; plate X, figs, i, la. 



D. 2/S. A. 2/5. P. II— 12. V. 8. 



In this fish the head is slightly depressed and the ventral 

 profile is almost horizontal. The dorsal profile rises gradually 

 from the end of the snout to the base of the dorsal fin, beyond 

 which it slopes gradually to the base of the caudal fin. There 

 are definite rows of open pores all over the head and those just 

 above and below the eye meet posteriorly and are continued along 

 the lateral line, which ends just above the middle of the anal fin. 



The length of the head is contained 5 — 5i times, of the 

 caudal fin 5— 5| times and the depth of the body 7—8 times in 

 the total length. The eyes are minute and are situated in the 

 middle of the head. They look upwards and outwards and are 

 invisible from below. The diameter of the eye is contained 4^ 

 times in the length of the head. There are two pairs of nostrils, 

 one on either side Their position is nearer to the eye than to 

 the end of the snout. A fold of skin, provided with a sharp, 

 barbel-like process, separates the nostrils of each side. It has an 

 inferior, semicircular mouth, which is surrounded b}' thick lips. 

 The lower lip is shghtly notched in the middle and is devoid of any 

 swellings or papillae. Barbels. — There are six barbels, two rostral 

 pairs and one pair maxillary. The outer rostrals are the longest 

 and extend to the posterior margin of the nostrils. Fins. — The 

 dorsal fin is slightly in advance of the ventrals and is as high as 

 the depth of the body below it ; its origin is equidistant from the 

 nostrils and the base of the caudal fin. The pectorals are rounded 

 and are shorter than the head and are separated from the 

 ventrals by three-fourths of their own length. The ventrals are 

 well developed and are provided with scaly appendages to their 

 bases. The ventrals reach the vent. The caudal fin is deeply 

 lorked ; the lower lobe is sHghtly the longer. 



The colouration of this species is very characteristic. There 

 are 12—13 black rings round the body, separated by an equal 

 number of slightly narrow white ones. In front of the ventrals 

 the rings are incomplete and the under surface of the head and 

 body is dull white. There is a black bar across the base of the 



