180 TELEOSTEI. PHYSOSTOMI. 



rays, which are higher than the body ; length of the base of the 

 adipose dorsal equal to that of the rayed fin. Pectoral spine 

 stronger and usually slightly shorter than that of the dorsal, rough 

 externally, sometimes even with a few serrations near its tip, 

 serrated internally. Ventrals not reaching the anal. Caudal 

 forked. Colour brownish above, bluish on the sides where it is 

 glossed with gold, and of a dull white beneath. Fins with a bluish- 

 black tinge. Young specimens are of a brownish colour, superiorly 

 glossed with purplish and yellow, the fins nearly black. 



Hob. From Bombay through the seas of India, entering estuaries 

 and tidal rivers ; attaining at least 3 feet in length. 



189. (11.) Arius serratns. 

 Arius serratus, Day, Fish. India, p. 462, pi. cv, fig. 3. 



B. vi. D. 1/7 | 0. P. 1/10. V. 6. A. 16 (5/11). C. 17. 



Length of head 5|, of caudal fin 4|, height of body o| in the total 

 length. Eyes diameter 4| in the length of head, 1| diameters 

 from end of snout, and 2 apart. The greatest width of the head 

 equals its length behind the angle of the mouth. Upper jaw the 

 longer, the width of the gape of the mouth equal to half the length 

 of the head. Upper surface of the head granulated or with rough 

 lines, most distinct on the occipital process. The median longi- 

 tudinal groove on the head does not quite reach posteriorly to 

 above the hind edge of the opercle ; from the groove commences a 

 serrated ridge, which is continued along the occipital process. 

 Occipital process with a serrated keel, a little longer than wide at 

 its base. Basal bone narrow and crescent-shaped. Barbels the 

 maxillary reach to the middle of the pectoral fin, the outer man- 

 dibular to the gill-opening. Teeth in the palate villiform in three 

 distinct patches on either side, the two vomerine patches round, 

 small, and with an interspace between them, outside each there is 

 another rather longer oval patch ; the third or posterior patch is 

 parallel to the one on the opposite side. Fins dorsal higher than 

 the body ; its spine, which is serrated on both edges, is as long as 

 the head behind the middle of the eyes, and has a soft termination ; 

 the length of the base of the adipose half that of the rayed fin. 

 Pectoral reaching rather above halfway to the ventral; pectoral 

 spine stronger than that of the dorsal, but not quite so long ; 

 externally the former is rough in its lower, serrated in its outer 

 half, internally it is denticulated. The ventral does not reach the 

 anal. Upper caudal lobe the longer. Colour upper surface of 

 the head copper-coloured shot with gold, sides silvery. Fins 

 yellowish, rayed dorsal stained with dark in its outer half; adipose 

 fin with a black spot ; a dark band, edged with white, along the 

 outer half of the anal ; both caudal lobes dark at their extremities. 



This fish is nearly allied to A. tJtalaxsimts, but has much shorter 

 pectoral fins and longer maxillary barbels. "Whether the serrations 

 along the occipital ridge are merely due to the specimen being 

 young is questionable. 



Hob. Sind. 





