SILUBID<E. 183 



193. (15.) Arius malabaricus. 



Arius malabaricus, Day, Fish. India, p. 464, pi. cvii, fig. 4. 

 B. vi. D. 1/7 | 0. P. 1/10. V. 6. A. 20 (6/14). C. 17. 



Length of head 4|, of caudal fin 51, height of body 5 in the total 

 length. Eyes diameter 6- in the length of head, 2^ diameters 

 from the end of snout, and 3^ apart. The greatest width of the 

 head equals its length behind the nostrils, it is rather wider than 

 high. Upper jaw the longer, the width of the gape of the mouth 

 equals two fifths of the length of the head. Upper surface of the 

 head sparingly granulated. The median longitudinal groove on the 

 head commences opposite the hind edge of the eyes, it is very narrow 

 and deep, and is continued nearly to the base of the occipital process, 

 which latter is slightly keeled and granulated, as broad at its base 

 as it is long, and emarginate posteriorly to receive the V-shaped 

 basal bone of the dorsal fin. Barbels the maxillary pair black 

 and as long as the head, the outer mandibular pair rather shorter. 

 Teeth in the' upper jaw one fourth as wide as long, those on the 

 palate granular and in two elongated oval patches which reach far 

 forwards, and are slightly convergent anteriorly, they extend some 

 distance posteriorly. Fins dorsal spine of moderate strength, as 

 long as the head behind the angle of the mouth, anteriorly granu- 

 lated in its lower, serrated in its upper portion, posteriorly serrated ; 

 base of soft dorsal rather short. Pectoral spine nearly as long as 

 the head, denticulated internally, and extending to below the last 

 dorsal ray. Ventral not quite reaching the anal. Colour silvery, 

 glossed with gold below ; adipose dorsal with a black spot in its 

 upper half. 



Hob. Canara. 



194. (18.) Arius platystomus. 



Arius platystomus, Day, Fish. India, p. 464, pi. cvii, fig. 3. 

 B. vi. D. 1/7 | 0. P. 1/10. V. 6. A. 19 (5/14). C. 17. 



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

 length. Eyes diameter 7 in the length of head, 2 diameters from 

 the end of snout, and 4 apart. The greatest widtli of the head 

 exceeds its height by one third, and is as long as the head without 

 the snout. Upper jaw the longer ; the width of the gape of the 

 mouth equal to four sevenths of the length of the head. Median 

 longitudinal groove on head becoming narrow posteriorly, where it 

 just reaches the base of the occipital process, which is strongly 

 keeled, rather longer than wide at its base, with straight lateral 

 edges, and extending to the basal bone of the dorsal fin, which is 

 rather narrow and S-shaped. A very few scattered granulations over 

 the posterior half of the head and the occipital process. Barbels 

 the maxillary reach just beyond the base of the pectoral, the outer 



