153 



Hab. Seas, estuaries, and tidal waters from Sind and Bombay, 

 throughout India and Burma to the Malay Archipelago. There 

 are stuffed specimens in the Calcutta Museum 18 inches in length. 



160. (6.) Macrones punctatus. 



Bagrus punctatus, Jerdon, Mad. Jour. L. Sc. xv, 1849, p. 339. 

 Macrones punctatus, Day, Fish. India, p. 445, pi. c, fig. 3 (see synon.). 

 Sholamj kellett, Tam. 

 B. xi. D. 1/7 | 0. P. 1/7. V. 6. A. 11-13 (3-4/8-9). C. 17. 



Length of head 4| in the young to 5, of caudal fin 5|, height of 

 body 6^ in the total length. Eyes diameter 6 to 7 in the length 

 of head, 2 diameters from end of snout, and 2 apart. Greatest 

 width of head equals its' length behind the nostrils ; width of the 

 gape of mouth equals two fifths of length of head. Upper jaw 

 slightly the longer. Interorbital space rather convex and equal to 

 the length of the snout ; upper surface of the head and shoulder- 

 bones furrowed, but without any tuberculated ridges. Median 

 longitudinal groove very indistinct, lanceolate, and extending almost 

 to the base of the occipital process, which is narrow and has an in- 

 terval equal to twice its length between it and the basal bone. 

 Barbels the nasal reach the hinder edge of the orbit, the maxillary 

 the base or middle of the ventral fin, the external mandibular the 

 base of the pectoral, the internal are one third shorter. Teeth 

 on the palate in an uninterrupted crescentic band. Fins dorsal 

 spine of moderate strength, serrated posteriorly in its upper third, 

 it is one half as long as the head but shorter than the first ray ; 

 adipose dorsal with a short base, equalling half the distance of the 

 interspace between it and the first dorsal fin. Pectoral spine 

 longer and stronger than that of the dorsal, equal in length to the 

 head excluding the snout, rugose externally, denticulated internally. 

 The ventrals arise on a vertical line just posterior to the last dorsal 

 ray. Upper caudal lobe the longer. Colour head and back 

 dark greyish olive, becoming yellow on the abdomen ; about ten 

 black, rounded spots along the lateral line ; fins dusky, except the 

 ventrals, which are yellowish. 



This fish is closely allied to M. corsula, but its head is much 

 shorter in the adult, its upper surface is almost smooth, and its 

 snout is not so flat. 



Hab. Bhavani river at base of Nilgiri hills ; attaining at least 

 18 inches in length. 



161. (7.) Macrones corsula. 



Pimelodus corsula, Ham. Such. Fish. Ganges, pi. i, fig 1 . 72. 

 Macrones corsula. Day, Fish. India, p. 446, pi. c, fig. 5 (see synon.). 

 Piinjah-yaynh. Ooriah ; Kala shcnyal, Marathi. 

 B. x. D. 1/7 | 0. P. 1/9. V. 6. A. 11-13 (3-5/8). C. 17. 

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



