SILURIDJE. 161 



Greatest width of the head equal to its length behind the angle of 

 the mouth. Upper surface of the head nearly smooth. Median 

 longitudinal groove extending to midway between hind edge of 

 the eye and the base of the occipital process, which last is about 

 twice as long as wide, whilst there exists a considerable interspace 

 between it and the basal bone of the dorsal fin. The triangular 

 portion of the shoulder-bone curves rather upwards, and is one 

 fourth longer than deep at its base. Barbels the nasal reach to 

 a little behind the orbit, the maxillary to the middle or end of the 

 ventral fin, the external mandibular to the end of the pectoral, 

 while the internal are a little shorter. Teeth in an uninterrupted 

 cre&centic band across the palate. Fins dorsal nearly as high as 

 the body ; the spine weak, finely serrated or almost entire pos- 

 teriorly, with one denticulation anteriorly near the summit, the 

 length 'of the spine equal to that of the postorbital portion of the 

 head ; length of base of adipose dorsal one third more than that of 

 the rayed fin, or of the interspace between the two fins. Pectoral 

 spine strong and equal to the length of the head excluding the 

 snout, internally with about eight or ten strong denticulations, 

 roughened externally. Upper caudal lobe the longer. Colour 

 deep leaden, usually with a dark blotch on the shoulder surrounded 

 by a lighter edge, another at the base of the caudal fin ; a dark 

 band along the lateral line ; abdomen of a dull white. Fins with 

 minute dark spots, making the upper portion of the dorsal and 

 the lower third of the anal blaqkish. 



Hub. Malabar coast of India and the "Wynaad ; attaining up- 

 wards of 6 inches in length. 



171. (17.) Macrones armatus. 

 Ilypselobagrus armatus, Day, P. Z. S. 1865, p. 289. 

 Macrones armatus, Dai/, Nsh. India, p. 450, pi. ci, fig. 3. 



Cuaree, Mai. 



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



Length of head 5|, of caudal fin 5|, height of body 5| in the total 

 length. Eyes diameter 5 in the length of the head, 1| from end 

 of snout, and 2 apart. A considerable rise from the snout to the 

 base of the dorsal fin. The greatest width of the head equals its 

 height or its length excluding the snout. Upper surface of the 

 head roughened, the median longitudinal groove almost reaching 

 the base of the occipital process, which last is about three times as 

 long as wide, and reaches the basal bone of the dorsal fin ; shoulder- 

 bone roughened in lines and half longer than deep at its base. 

 Barbels the nasal nearly reach the opercle, the maxillary the end 

 of ventral fin, the outer mandibular the end of pectoral spine, 

 while the internal are shorter. Teeth in an uninterrupted cre- 

 scentic band across the palate. Fins dorsal as high as the body 

 below it, its spine very finely serrated posteriorly, or entire, and 

 four ninths of the length of the head ; length of base of adipose 

 dorsal exceeding that of the rayed fin, or of the interspace between 



