S1LVIUD.E. 143 



B.ix-x. D.l/7|0. P. 1/12. V.6. A. 31-34 (4-5/27-29). C. 19. 

 Length of head 5| to 6, of caudal fin 5 to 5|, height of body 4 

 to 5 in the total length. Eyes partly on the lower surface of the 

 head, and rather nearer the snout than the occiput, the width of 

 the interorbital space equalling the length of the head excluding 

 the snout. The greatest width of the head equals its length 

 behind the angle of the mouth. Upper jaw the longer; width of 

 the gape of the mouth equals three sevenths of the length of the 

 head, its cleft reaches to below the hind nostril, and is opposite 

 the centre of the front edge of the eye. Upper surface of the 

 head smooth in small specimens, rather lineated in large ones, 

 especially along the occipital process, which is from 2| to 3 



^p "^ 



Fig. Gl.Panffasitis buchanani and upper dentition. 



times as long as wide at its base. Barbels the maxillary reach 

 the base of the pectoral fin ; the mandibular are half as long as the 

 head. Teeth on the palate in a crescentic row, the vomerine 

 patches being either distinct from or just confluent with those on 

 the palate. Fins dorsal spine of moderate strength, as long as 

 the head behind the angle of the mouth, slightly serrabed anteriorly, 

 in its entire length posteriorly. Pectoral spine rather stronger 

 than that of the dorsal, in some specimens of the same length ; in 

 others as long as the head, denticulated internally. Caudal deeply 

 forked. Colour silvery, darkest along the back and glossed with 

 purple on the sides ; cheeks and under surface of the head shot 

 with gold. Air-bladder large, its anterior portion occupies about 

 half the length of the abdominal cavitv, and is then divided by a 

 constriction from the second portion, which is narrowed and 

 divides into two small continuations, one of which extends on 

 either side amongst the muscles covering the haemal spines, as far 

 as to above the middle of the anal fin. The anterior portion of 

 the air-bladder has a large pyramidal and cellular cavity, the base 

 of which is anterior; on either side of this cellular cavity is a 

 pyriform smooth chamber, the two communicating anteriorly. 

 The remainder of the air-bladder is cellular or, rather, furnished 

 with valvular-formed folds. 



//aft. Large rivers and estuaries of India, Assam, Burma, and 

 perhaps the Malay Archipelago. This species attains upwards 

 of four feet in length, and is a foul feeder. 



