CJassification of the Order Ostariophyst. 567 



the small raesopterygoid is attached to the lower surface of 

 the palatine. There is no post-temporal, and the supra- 

 cleithrum is like that of the Bunocephalidse, with the lower 

 limb slender, the upper attached to the supraoccipital and 

 almost reaching the neural crest of the complex vertebra, 

 and the outer division of the stem superior, directed back- 

 wards above and united to the parapophysis of the fourth 

 vertebra ; a mesocoracoid is present and the hypocoracoids 

 interlock below. Vertebrae 35 (10-1-25); free preecaudals 

 with ribs attached inferioi'ly to short parapophyses ; fifth 

 parapophysis moderate, at the base laminar and united with 

 the fourth ; anterior ramus of fourth parapophysis strong, 

 broad, united distally with the supra-cleithrura, posterior 

 ramus relatively small, similar to the fifth parapophysis. 

 Air-bladder large, free, partly constricted into two lateral 

 divisions. 



Family 12. SchilbeidaB. 



Closely related to the Bagridse, but with the anal fin elon- 

 gate and with the pterygoid absent ; pelvic fins 6-rayed. 



Indian and African fresh-water fishes ; the more gene- 

 ralized members of the family are very near the Bagridae, 

 but the group is a varied one. The skull is extremely 

 similar in all, differing from that of the Bagridse and Amiu- 

 ridae in its straight parallel edges, the lateral ethmoids 

 scarcely projecting outwards in front of the orbit nor the 

 pterotics behind the articulation of the hyomandibular. The 

 vertebra number 47 to 58 (10-20 -h 29-47). 



The genera may be arranged as follows : — ■ 



I. Dorsal fin with a pungent spine ; teeth well developed ; post- 

 temporal present ; hj'pocoracoids interlocking below ; lower limb 

 of supra-cleithrum free. (^Schilbeince.) 



A. Air-bladder as in the Bagridse ; anterior vertebrae as in Rita ; 



anterior ramus of parapophysis of fourth vertebra stout, con- 

 nected with posterior at the base ; vertebrse 11-17 -f-30-41. 



African Schilbe, Eutropius. 



Indian Pseudeutropius, Lais, Helico- 



phayus, Siliindia, 



B. CaTity of air-bladder divided longitudiually into two ; para- 



pophysis of fourth vertebra a lamina with the anterior and 

 posterior edges decurved to form a semi-cylinder ; vertebrae 

 19-204-29-33. 



Indian Schilbichthys, Eutropiichthys, 



