376 LIEUT.-COL, W. H. SYKES ON THE 
Mystus Bapcer. 
Tab. LXVIL. Fig, 2. 
A Mystus, with not less than 105 rays in the anal fin, 7 or 8 in the dorsal; with the last gill-cover plate 
minutely crenated on its posterior edge, and with the anal fin terminating the body in a point; ventral 
fins none, or so minute as to escape observation. 
Form of the fish broad lance-head shaped. 
Posterior edge of the last gill-plate crenate ; the lower ridge of the cheek-bone set 
with numerous minute square teeth. Dorsal fin of 7 or 8 small rays, branched, ex- 
cepting the first, seated a little behind the centre of the back ; pectoral fins of from 13 
to 16 branched rays, small ; anal fin extending from near the pectoral fins to the ex- 
tremity of the fish, of 105 rays or more ; ventral fins joined and surrounding the vent, 
of from 2 to 4 rays, but the fins are so minute as usually to escape observation: tail 
only in the continuation of the anal fin, and terminating in a point on the plane of the 
lateral line. Fish very much compressed, lance-head shaped, but deepest at the shoul- 
ders ; length |1 inches ; height 3 inches : vent before the extremity of the pectoral fins. 
A dark, irregular, lengthened, very smooth, shining cavity over each. eye, besides two 
minute, oval, similar hollows further up the head. Scales very minute, steel-gray 
along the back, passing into white silvery at the belly: lateral line arched near the 
shoulders, thence straight to the tail: belly so compressed as to be comparatively knife- 
edged : the belly is grooved and minutely serrated on each edge from the throat to the 
vent: the back is rounded. The upper and lower jaws set with numerous minute 
teeth, scattered along the edge of the jaws ; the tongue is set with many incurved teeth. 
Eyes circular, high up, near the snout; irides yellowish : fish very bony: flesh firm ; 
not esteemed. Found in the Mota Mola river, at Poona, and in the Beema river, at 
Seedataik, In different parts of the Dukhun this fish is called by the Mahratta names 
of ‘ Challut,’ ‘ Badgee,’ and ‘ Putrah.’ 
This fish should constitute a new genus in Pisces of the order Apodes ; for although 
Dr. Hamilton in his specific characters gives ventral fins with a definite number of rays, 
six or seven individuals were examined by me without my discovering them, and the 
fish from which the drawing was made was absolutely destitute of them. An eighth 
specimen, which I have preserved in spirits, has a minute fin surrounding the vent, 
but I cannot testify positively to the number of its rays, and I would rather look upon 
it as a defensive process for that organ. Of the three species of Mystus described by 
Dr. Hamilton, the Challut has a very considerable affinity to M. Kapirat, which Bon- 
naterre considered as a Gymnotus, and Lacepéde a Notopterus ; it nevertheless has specific 
differences. This is no doubt of the genus Notopterus of Lacepéde ; but as Buchanan 
Hamilton established the genus, I necessarily give his characters precedence. 
