142 TELEOSTEI. PHYBOSTOMI. 



the snout. Upper jaw the longer, the width of the gape of the 

 mouth is two fifths the length of the head. Occipital process 

 about four times as long as it is wide at its base, and not quite 

 reaching the basal bone. Barbels nasal from one third to one 

 half as long as the head ; the maxillary extend to the middle or end 

 of the ventral fin, the two mandibular pairs are about as long as 

 the head. Teeth in a semilunar band across the palate, those of 

 the vomer contiguous to those of the palatines, and each patch 

 being semicircular internally : sometimes the two voraerine 

 patches have an interspace between them. Fins dorsal spine 

 rather slender, rugose anteriorly and feebly serrated posteriorly, 

 as long as the head behind the nostrils, while the pectoral is of 

 equal length or a little longer, stronger, and denticulated internally. 

 The adipose dorsal generally only exists in the immature, and 

 becomes almost imperceptible in the adult : as its non-existence 

 forms the chief distinction of the genus ScJiilbeichthyg from that of 

 Pseudeutropius, whilst its absence is merely the result of age, I 

 have not adopted the former designation. Lower caudal lobe the 

 longer. Air-bladder small, somewhat heart-shaped, and closely 

 attached to the anterior surface of the front vertebrae. Colour 

 silvery, fins stained with grey. 



Hal. Found generally throughout the larger rivers of Sind, 

 India, Assam, and Burma. Attains upwards of two feet in length. 



17. Genus PANGASIUS, Cuvier and Valenciennes. 

 Syn. Pseudopangasius and Helicophagus, Bleeker. 



Branchiostegals from about seven to twelve. Gill-openings 

 wide, the membranes not confluent with the skin of the isthmus 

 and rather deeply notched. Upper jaw the longer. Eye with 

 free orbital margin. Nostrils at some distance apart, both patent, 

 the anterior situated in front, or on the upper edge, of the snout. 

 Four slender barbels, one pair maxillary and a pair behind the 

 chin. Teeth villiform, intermixed with conical ones in the jaws ; 

 those in the vomer, if present, distinct from those on the palatines. 

 Dorsal fin inserted in front of ventral and with one spine and 

 seven rays ; adipose fin short. Ventral with six rays. Pectoral 

 with a spine. Anal rather elongate (29 to 39 rays), not confluent 

 with the caudal. Air-bladder in the abdominal cavity, and not 

 enclosed in bone. One or more axillary pores. 



Geographical Distribution. Large rivers and estuaries of India 

 and Burma to the Malay Archipelago. 



152. (1.) Pangasins buchanani. (Fig. 61.) 

 Pimelodus pangasius, Ham. Buck. Fish. Ganges, pp. 103, 376, pi. 33, 



tig. 52. 

 Pangasius buchanani, Cuv. 8? Vol. H. N. Poiss. xv, p. 45, pi. 426; 



Day, Fish. India, p. 470, pi. cviii, fig. 5 (see synon.). 



Jettum, Ooriah ; Coola KeUette, Tamil ; Nga, dan, Burmese. 



