168 TELEOSTEI. PIIYSOSTOMI. 



width of the head equals its length excluding the snout, its height 

 is slightly less. Upper jaw the longer, the width of the mouth 

 equals four thirteenths of the length of the head. Upper surface 

 of the head mesially and posteriorly, also the occipital and scapular 

 processes, rough. Occipital process as wide at its base as it is long, 

 notched anteriorly to receive the basal bone. Cubito-humeral 

 process as long as the head excluding the snout. Barbels nasal 

 short, the maxillary reach the base of the pectoral fin, the man- 

 dibular slightly shorter. Teeth villiform in both jaws, and two or 

 three of the inner rows in the mandibles with globular crowns ; 

 two patches of globular-headed teeth on the palate converge an- 

 teriorly so as to touch one another in their front half. Fins 

 dorsal spine strong, reaching to about the middle of the adipose fin 

 and nearly one half longer than the head, coarsely serrated an- 

 teriorly in its whole extent, and very finely serrated posteriorly. 

 Pectoral spine rather longer than the head, and denticulated on 

 both sides. Caudal deeply forked. Colour yellowish, the ends 

 of the fins stained greyish. 



Hah. Orissa, where a single specimen was captured. 



178. (4.) Rita hastata. 



Arius hastatus, Vol. Jacquemont, Voy. Ind., Atlas, Potss. pi. 18, fig. 2. 

 Rita hastata, Day, Fish. India, p. 450, pi. ciii, fig. 4 (see synon.). 



Kurdu, Marathi ; Mussayahri, Ooriah. 

 B. viii. D. 1/6 | 0. P. 1/10. V. 7-8. A. 13-14 (5/8-9). C. 17. 



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

 the total length. Eyes covered with skin, pupil oval, diameter 4| 

 to 5 in the length of head, lj diameters from the end of snout, 

 and 1 apart. Greatest width of the head equal to its length 

 behind the angle of the mouth ; upper jaw the longer ; the width 

 of the mouth three eighths of the length of the head. Upper sur- 

 face of the head (except just anterior to the occipital process) 

 covered with skin, the portion in front of the occipital process and 

 the process itself with roughened lines, the latter half longer than 

 wide at its base, anteriorly emarginate to receive the basal bone of 

 the dorsal fin. Scapular process rough but not elongated. Cubito- 

 humeral process as long as the head, sharply pointed posteriorly, 

 and rugose in lines. Barbels the maxillary reaching the base of 

 the pectoral fin, the mandibular to below the hind edge of the eye ; 

 the nasal short. Teeth in villiform or cardiform rows in both 

 jaws ; in two elliptical patches on the palate, converging anteriorly, 

 and widely asunder along the median line, they consist of pointed 

 ones anteriorly and more granular ones behind. Fins dorsal 

 spine of moderate strength, as long as, or even longer than, the 

 head, finely serrated posteriorly in its upper portion, and also 

 anteriorly along its lower third ; length of the base of the adipose 

 dorsal two thirds of that of the rayed fin ; pectoral spine stronger 



