131 



138. (3.) Callichrous bimaculatus. (Fig. 57.) 



Silurus biniaculatiis, Jiloch, Ich. t. 364. 



Callichrous bimaculatus, Day, Fish. India, p. 476, pi. ex, figs. 4 & 5 

 (see synon.). 



Diika-diimti, Tel. ; Godla, Canarese ; Dimmon, Sind. ; Chotnh- or 

 Ckcla-wahlah, Tarn. ; Pob-tah, Ooriah ; Pah-boh, Assam.; Pufta, Goonyidxh, 

 and Pallu, Punj.; Goon</-wah-ree and Puf-ta, N.W. Provinces; Gugli, 

 Mara thi ; Kanee rabda, Beng. ; Nya noothan, Burmese. 



B. xii. D. 4. P. 1/13. V. 8. A. 60-75 (2-3/58-72). C. 17. 



Length of head 5 to 7, of caudal fin 6| to 7, height of body 5| 

 to5 in the total length. Eyes situated opposite the angle of the 

 mouth ; diameter 4 to 5| in the length of the head, 1 to 1| diameters 

 from the end of snout, and 2| to 3| apart. The greatest width of 

 the head equals its length behind the angle of the mouth. The 

 lower jaw very prominent, the width of the gape of the mouth 

 equals the postorbital length of the head or its length to behind 

 the middle of the eyes. Barbels the maxillary pair reach the 

 middle of the pectoral or the commencement of the anal. Teeth 

 in two small oval patches, one on either side of the vomer, and not 

 continuous. Fins dorsal arises in the commencement of the 

 second two sevenths of the body, it is narrow and two thirds as high 



'. 57. Callichrous bimaculatus. 



as the body. Pectoral as long as the head behind the angle of the 

 mouth, its spine of moderate strength, as long as the head behind 

 the middle of the eyes, and strongly or feebly serrated on the inner 

 side, or even entire. Anal ceases close to, but is not continuous 

 with, the forked caudal. Colour silvery shot with purple, a black 

 spot on the shoulder behind the gill-opening and above the middle of 

 the pectoral fin ; in some specimens this black spot is much better 

 defined than in others. Occasionally the caudal fin is tipped with 

 black. 



The character of the pectoral spine, whether smooth * or serrated, 

 is not a specific distinction. 



Hob. The fresh waters of Sind, and from the Punjab throughout 

 India, Ceylon, and Assam to the Malay Archipelago and beyond. 

 Sometimes observed in Burma, according to Col. Tickell, within 

 tidal influence. Attains at least a foot and a half in length. 



* At Trichinopoly I opened eight specimens having entire pectoral spines ; 

 all were females, one had 47,844 eggs. 



K2 



