] 46 TELEOSTEI. PHYSOSTOMI. 



having a comraunicating canai, and in the young is almost sur- 

 rounded by high osseous sides. Colour bluish along the back, 

 becoming silvery on the sides, fins stained with grey. 



.Hal. Estuaries of India and Burma, ascending the larger rivers 

 nearly to their sources. S. f/anyetica attains 6 feet or more in 

 length, and is called " a shark " by the natives. It is very voracious. 



19. Genus MACRONES, Dumcril. 



Syn. Bagrw, pt., Cuv. & Val. ; Hypselobayrus, Hemibagnts, Pseitdo- 

 bagrus, and Asjridobayrus, Bleeker. 



Branchiostegals from six to twelve. Mouth terminal, transverse. 

 Upper jaw generally the longer. Gill-openings wide, the gill-mem- 

 branes overlapping the isthmus and being separate to the chin. 

 Eyes with free circular lids. Barbels eight one nasal, one maxil- 

 lary, and two mandibular pairs. A distinct and separate interneural 

 shield on the nape, closely connected to the basal bone of the 

 dorsal tin ; or no such shield. Villiform teeth in the jaws, and in 

 a more or less uninterrupted curved band across the palate, Rayed 

 dorsal fin with one spine and seven rays ; adipose dorsal of varying 

 length ; pectoral with a strong serrated spine ; anal short or of 

 moderate length ; ventral with six rays ; caudal forked. Air- 

 bladder of moderate or large size, attached to the under surface of the 

 bodies of the anterior vertebrae. An axillary pore generally present. 



The ova of these fishes are small, consequently very different to 

 those of their marine relatives, Arius and its allied genera. 



Geographical Distribution. These fishes extend through most 

 parts of Asia, and are numerous in the fresh waters of India and 

 Ceylon, one species (M. yulio) often being captured in the sea. 



Uses. Employed as food by the poorer natives, but of inferior 

 quality and rather insipid. 



Synopttt of Indian Species. 



A. 26-28. Golden, with a large black 



shoulder-spot 1. M. chryseus, p. 148. 



A. 12-13. Maxillary barbels reach cau- 

 dal fin. A black spot on adipose 

 dorsal fin 2. M. aor, p. 149. 



A. 11-12. Maxillary barbels reach hind 



edge of first dorsal fin 3. M. seenyhala, p. 150. 



A. 12. Maxillary barbels reach front 

 edge of eye. A dark shoulder-spot, 

 another on the adipose dorsal j body 

 with indistinct cross bands '. 4. M. blythii, p. 151. 



A. 12-15. Occipital process half longer 

 than wide at its base, a long inter- 

 space between it and basal bone of 

 dorsal fin. Length of base of adipose 

 dorsal equal to half that of the inter- 

 space between the two dorsal fins. . 5. M. gullo, p. 151. 



