]36 TELEOSTEI. PHYSOSTOMI. 



centre. Barbels subequnl in length and extend to the middle of 

 the length of the fish. Teeth villiform in the jaws. Fins adi- 

 pose dorsal minute. Pectoral spine nearly as long as the head ; 



Fig. 59. Ailiichthhys punctatm. 



vcntrals absent. Caudal forked, lower lobe the longer. Colour 

 silvery, upper surface of head nearly black, a large black spot 

 before the base of the caudal fin. 



Hub. Jumna below Delhi, also from the Indus in Sind, where I 

 obtained numerous specimens up to 4 inches in length. 



16. Genus PSEUDEUTROPIUS, Bleeker. 

 Syn. Clupisoma, Swainson ; Schilbeichthys, Bleelcer. 



Branchiostegals from six to ten. Gill-openings wide, the mem- 

 branes not confluent with the skin of the isthmus and rather 

 deeply notched. Body elongated and compressed. Head covered 

 with soft skin. Eyes large, with- or without broad adipose lids, 

 and situated behind as well as a little below the angle of the 

 mouth, being usually partly on the inferior surface of the head. 

 Upper jaw, as a rule, the longer. Nostrils patent, the posterior 

 ones transverse and as near together as they are to the anterior 

 pair. Barbels eight one nasal pair, one maxillary and two man- 

 dibular pairs, these last commencing in a transverse line close to 

 the hind margin of the lower lip. Teeth villiform on the jaws and 

 palate. Dorsal fin short, with one spine and six to eight rays ; a 

 very small adipose dorsal which may be absorbed in the adult 

 (Schilbeichthys) ; pectoral with a serrated spine ; anal long, ter- 

 minating at some distance from a forked caudal. Ventral with 

 from 6 to 8 rays. Air-bladder rather small, somewhat heart- 

 shaped, with a notch at its anterior edge, and closely attached to 

 the front surfaces of the vertebra. An axillary pore generally 

 present. 



Geographical Distribution. Fresh waters of Sind, India, Ceylon, 

 and Burma to the Malay Archipelago, where according to Bleeker 

 it appears to have a single representative. 



Uses, These fishes are all excellent as food, but in some localities 

 are to be avoided as they consume offal. 



