126 



TEMCOSTEI. PIIYSOSTOMT. 



three fourths as long as the head. Anal and caudal separated by 

 a more or less distinct notch. Colour leaden, sometimes with 

 two longitudinal yellowish bands. The young are occasionally 

 reddish. 



- Wounds from the pectoral spine of this fish are dreaded in 

 India, as they are reputed to be very poisonous, even occasioning 

 tetanus. As soon as captured, the offensive spine is broken off by 

 blows with a stake, consequently it is difficult to procure large and 

 perfect specimens. Fishermen dread this fish so much that they 

 would prefer cutting the meshes of their nets and allowing it to 

 escape than endeavour to remove it uninjured. As food the flesh 

 is esteemed for its invigorating qualities, and tanks are frequently 

 stocked with these fishes during the rainy season. When food is 

 plentiful they fatten well ; if the reverse they become lanky, thus 

 altering the comparative height of the body to that of its length. 



In a specimen captured at Bezwada, September 12th, 1868, the 

 ova were fully developed ; the colour of the eggs was of a pea-green. 

 Hob. Fresh waters of Sind, India, Ceylon, Burma, and Cochin 

 China; attaining a foot or more in length. 



11. Genus WALLAGO, Bleeker. 



Branchiostegals from fifteen to twenty-one. Gill-openings wide, 

 the membrane not being confluent with the skin of the isthmus, 

 and being rather deeply notched. Body elongated and compressed, 

 the dorsal profile being nearly straight. Head covered with soft 

 skin. Cleft of mouth deep, extending to below or even behind the 

 eyes. Snout rather produced ; lower jaw a little the longer. 

 Nostrils some distance apart, the posterior small and patent, the 

 anterior slightly tubular. Barbels four, one maxillary and one 

 mandibular pair. Eyes above the level of the angle of the mouth, 

 and not covered with skin. Teeth numerous and cardiform in 

 both jaws, and in an oblique patch on either side of the vomer, 

 none on the palatines. A short spineless dorsal, situated above or 

 slightly before the ventrals; no adipose fin ; anal long, terminating 

 near the caudal, which last consists of two rounded lobes. Ventrals 

 with from eight to eleven rays. Air-bladder heart-shaped, situated 

 in the abdomen, and attached to the bodies of the second, third, and 

 fourth vertebrae. Axillary pore, if present, minute. 



Geographical Distribution. Fresh waters of India, Burma, and 

 the East Indian Archipelago. 



Uses. Good eating: thrives well in tanks, especially if they 

 have grassy margins; but it destroys vast numbers of other fish. 



134. (1.) Wallago atttt. (Fig. 54.) 



Silurus attu, SI. Schn. Si/st. Ich. p. 378, t. 75. 

 Wallago attu, Day, Fish. India, p. 479, pi. cxi, fig. 4 (see synon.). 

 Wtih-laJi, Mai. and Tarn.; Mid-la and Pi-i-kce and Jrr-i-l-ce, Sind.; 



