( 19 ) 



common to the liills as the Fscndechcncis !xni\. Glijptostci'mim. 

 In some species wliicb arc tbus provided, as the Ghjptoster- 

 niim striatiDii, not only is tins tlioracic apparatus very distinct 

 wliilst residing in mountain streams, but even their jjoctoral 

 and ventral rays are plaited inferiorly ; but these additions 

 arc indistinct or completely absent in specimens of the same 

 species wlicn their size is larger, and they have been captured 

 in the rivers of the plains. 



XXXII. The respiration of these siluroid fishes is as 

 „ . ,. , ., . , ^ , varied as amongst those of other orders 



Respiration of siluroid fishc3, , -.^^ inv /i n .^i 



(see para. XLIII) : thus, the Clarias 

 and Saccobranchus, owing to the possession of accessory 

 organs to their brauchitc, are compound-breathers, able 

 to reside in the mud of tanks, and are much employed for 

 stocking tlicsc places. Most of the siluroids ai'e very long- 

 lived whilst out of the water, even when accessory breathing 

 organs appear to be absent, as in some of the 3Iacrones and 

 in species of the genus Rita, which are very slimy fish. 

 As a rule, all which belong to this family are exceedingly foul 

 feeders, more especially when there arc but few small fish 

 for them to prey upon ; still for anglers who do not caro 

 whether the game alTords play, these fishes give good sport 

 wlien large, freely taking a I'rog or small fiish. Some of the 

 siluroids are migratory during the breeding season, and this 

 is generally in the rains. They appear to prefer muddy- 

 bottomed tanks and sluggish rivers, whilst pebbly streams, 

 especially if the waters are clear, are rather avoided by them 

 in the plains. Some even of the larger ones reside during 

 the dry months in jjlaces where there Avould be no means 

 of subsistence for them were it not for a sufficiency of small 

 fish, which likewise retreat there, and afford them sustenance 

 until the rains re-commence, and they can again move about. 



XXXIII. In the family ScosiBRESociniE, the Belone 

 „ ., „ ^ ., cancila is found throughout the 



Family Scombresocidoj. . iji • i-i./i i 



rivers and tanks, in which it breeds. 

 Amongst tbe CyprinodontidyE are several small fresh-water 

 species as Cuprinodon Slolickamis in Katch, and several 

 species of Haplochilus in India and Burma, mostly in largo 

 rivers and near sea levels. 



XXXIV. Tbe carps or Ci/pnnidtu, as already observed, 

 „ ., ^^ . ., belong to the order riiysostomi ; 



I'nmily of Cvpnnida' or cnrpg. . y ., ^ l'l l pi ii • 



riist, siib-fiimiiy or loaciics, with tlus liimilyare destitute oi leetli in 



llinnir-vcssel more or less euclos- tl,(;jj. jjjWS aud palatC, Ouly pOSSCSS- 

 eil ill bone. . ,,•' ,, • .«.*'', 



ing them on their inlerior pliaryn- 

 geal bones, wliilst none of them have more than one fin 



