CO Mr. C. R. Narajan Rao on 



7. Betia striata, sp. h. 

 (PI. II. figs. 4, A a, 4 b.) 



D. 11-12 (2/9-10). P. 13-14. V. 8. A. 7-8 (1/6-7). C. 19. 



The body is greatly compressed laterally and the dorsal 

 profile in the front of the dorsal fin is a broad incline, which 

 becomes an abrupt descent from the eyes to the snout. The 

 depth of body is contained about 3^ times in the total length 

 without the the caudal tin, and is only very slightly greater 

 than the length of head. The caudal peduncle is almost 

 squarish, being slightly deeper than long. The head is 

 greatly compressed, and its length is nearly equal to the 

 distance between the tip of snout and the anterior root of 

 pectoral fin. The width of head is just half its own depth. 

 The eyes are moderate, their diameter is contained five times 

 in the length of the head and is slightly more than half 

 the length of the suborbital spine. The spine is bifid at 

 the base. Barbels 8, subequal, the shortest pair being the 

 mandibular ones. The mouth is crescentic when shut and 

 is an oval aperture when open. The distance between the 

 angles of the mouth, if widely opened, is equal to the 

 diameter of the orbit. The upper lip overhangs the lower, 

 both somewhat thick and suctorial. The dorsal fin arises in 

 front of the root of the ventrals and both are behind the 

 middle point in the total length of body without the caudal 

 fin. The height of the dorsal fin is equal to the length of 

 the anal fin, and the ventral* is shorter than these two. The 

 length of the pectorals is less than twice the length of the 

 suborbital spine and is longer than the snout. The margin 

 of the dorsal fin is entire, that of the dorsal fin is deeply 

 lobed, the lobes being equal. The anterior nostril is sur- 

 rounded by a very broad glandular fold, which covers the 

 posterior nares ; the opening of the latter is a wide funnel, 

 that of the former is a slit masked by the glandular lips of 

 the fold. Muciferous glands are few, present on the head 

 and on the sides of the operculum. The lateral line is entire 

 and straight, terminating anteriorly in the upper corner of 

 the gill-opening ; is rarely continued forward by a row 

 of muciferous glands. Scales are absent on the head, oper- 

 culum, and chest. They are small and non-deciduous. 



The colour of this loach is most beautiful. The body is 

 diversified by broad dark and narrow yellow bands, which 

 from behind the nape form oblique hoops directed back- 

 wards; these bands completely surround the body. The 



* In fig. 4 the ventral fin is slightly exaggerated, so also is the 

 lower lobe of the caudal fin. 



