282 REPORT—1845, 
caudal, as in S. glanis or asotus. Lacépéde’s figure of S. sinensis is too rude to be of much 
use, and we are quite of M. Valenciennes’ opinion when he says that it is by no means pre- 
cise enough to serve for the establishment of a species. Mr. M‘Clelland has however had an 
opportunity of examining a Silurus from Chusan, which he has referred to Lacépéde’s species ; 
and Mr. Reeves’s drawing above-quoted answers better to the description of the colours and 
markings of sinensis than to any species introduced into the ‘ Histoire des Poissons.’ His 
drawing represents a fish with the nape but sparingly elevated, and having a caudal slightly 
notched in the middle with rounded equal lobes, the lower one distinct from the anal. The 
maxillary barbel reaches nearly to the end of the pectoral; the barbels of the lower jaw are 
not qitite half as long. The lateral line runs straight, a little above the mid-height, and is 
marked by a series of yellowish white points, which are met at right angles by about fourteen 
short rows of the same kind of dots descending at regular intervals from the back. The ground 
colour of the body is oil-green passing into yellowish-gray, and is reticulated by irregular 
meshes of neutral tint of a deeper colour. The meshes disappear in the darker hue of the 
summit of the back which approaches to blackish-green, and do not spread over the belly, 
which is white; but they descend lower at the anus, and include the posterior two-thirds of 
the anal. The ground colour is mostly silvery below the lateral line, but a buff-coloured band 
runs along the base of the anal, reticulated like the rest of the body. The dorsal, caudal and 
border of'the anal are oil-green ; the basal part of the anal being lilac-purple, with the darker 
reticulations posteriorly. The pectorals are lilac at the base, dull green on the disc, and have 
a yellow border. The ventrals are pale greenish-yellow with a lilac tint. The upper parts 
of the head are yellowish-brown with a purplish blush and without spots. Length of the 
figure 144 inches. 
Hab. Canton. Chusan. 
«“Sizrurus mysoricus, C. et V. xiv. p. 364. Silurus duda, Buch. Hamilt. 
p- 152; M‘Clelland, Calcutta Journ. iv. p. 402.” 
These references are given entirely on the authority of Mr. M‘Clelland. Having the In- 
dian fish under his eye, his opportunity for comparing it with his Chusan specimen is good; 
and it is important that a scrupulous comparison should be made, as this is one of the very 
few instances in which the same species of freshwater fish has been detected in India and 
China. The pointed caudal lobes distinguish this species from the foregoing ones. 
Hab. Chusan (M‘Clelland). 
«“ SILURUS BIMACULATUS, Bl. 364; C. et V. xiv. p. 360; M‘Clelland, Cale. 
Journ. iv. p.401.” 
Hab. Chusan (M‘Clelland). 
“ SrruRUS PUNCTATUS, Cantor, Ann. Nat. Hist. ix. p. 30.” 
“S. superné nitidé olivaceo-viridescens sive brunnescens, seriebus duabus 
punetorum nigrorum infra lineam lateralem ; abdomine albo-flavescenti ; 
alis dorsalibus, caudalibus analibusque nigris ; ventralibus albo-flavescen- 
tibus ; pectoralibus laté nigro marginatis. Cirrhi 3; Radii: D.5; A.80; 
C.15; P.1|5; V.14; Br. 5.” 
“Hab. Fresh and brackish water in the island of Chusan.” (Cantor; Zc.) No specimen. 
Sinurus JAPONICUS, Temm. et Schl. Faun. Jap. Sieb. Aad. D.5 5 A.72; 
C.17; P.1|l1; V.12. (Spec. Br. Mus., 11 inches long.) 
The part of the ‘ Fauna Japonica’ relating to this species is not yet published, but we have 
compared the specimen with S. aanthosteus. The ventrals are farther behind the dorsal than 
in that species, and the maxillary barbel not longer than the head. Short branchlets descend 
at intervals from the lateral line. 
Hab. Sea of Japan. 
? Backus crinavis, Richardsot. Jcon. Reeves, 217 ; Hardw. Malac. 179 
(et 180 dupl.). Chinese name, Sang maow (Birch); “ Growing hair” 
(Reeves). Length of fig. 10 inches. 
This drawing closely resembles Bagrus sagor, Buch. (Icons Hatdw. Malac. 169 et 176; C. 
et V. xiv. p: 446), and also B. bilineatus, C. et V.454; Russ. 169 ; but we are prevented from 
referring it to either of these species by its rather smaller anal and considerably larger ven- 
trals, Its profile is sufficiently like that of bilineatus or deddiyellah (Russ.) to need no fur- 
ther description, except that the ascent from the snout to the dorsal is a continuous straight 
