1 87 



199. (21.) Arius tennispinis. 



Arius tenuispinis, Day, Fish. India, p. 40C, pi. cvii, fig. 5 (see synon.), 

 B. vi. D. 1/7 | 0. P. 1/10. V. 6. A. 18 (5/13). C. 17. 



Length of head 3|, of caudal fin 4, height of body 5| in the total 

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

 end of snout, and 3| apart. The greatest width of the head equals 

 its length excluding the snout. The extent of the gape of the 

 mouth equal to one third of the length of the head. Median 

 longitudinal groove on the head narrow, and not quite reaching 

 the base of the occipital process, which has a slight keel, is a little 

 longer than wide at its base, and rather convex posteriorly, where 

 it reaches the narrow and V-shaped basal bone of the dorsal fin. A 

 few granulations on the top of the head, also along the middle of the 

 occipital process. Barbels the maxillary reach the end of the head, 

 the outer mandibular are one third shorter. Teeth none on palate. 

 Fins dorsal spine very weak and thin, nearly as long as the head 

 excluding the snout, serrated posteriorly ; base of the adipose equal 

 to half that of the rayed dorsal fin. Pectoral spine as long as the 

 dorsal, but slightly stronger, roughened externally, serrated inter- 

 nally. Caudal forked. Colour silvery along the back, becoming 

 lighter on the sides and beneath. 



Hob. Bombay, and perhaps Ceylon. 



200. (22.) Arias jella. 



Arius jella, Day, Fish. India, p. 467, pi. cvi, fig. 3 (see synon.). 

 Deddijellah, Tel. 



B. vi. D. 1/7 | 0. P. 1/10. V. 6. A. 17-18 (4-5/13). C. 19. 



Length of head 4|, of caudal fin 5|, height of dorsal fin 5j, of 

 body 6| in the total length. Eyes diameter 6 in the length of head, 

 2 to 2 diameters from the end of snout, and 3 apart. Greatest 

 width of the head one sixth more than its height, and equal to its 

 length behind the nostrils. Upper jaw the longer, the extent of 

 the gape of the mouth three eighths of the length of the head. 

 The median longitudinal groove becomes narrow and deep pos- 

 teriorly, and reaches nearly to the base of the occipital process, 

 which is slightly keeled, has nearly straight sides and is slightly 

 longer than broad, posteriorly it is a little emarginate and reaches 

 the narrow basal bone of the dorsal fin. Most of the occiput and the 

 occipital process are closely granulated. Barbeh the maxillary 

 are nearly as long as the head, the outer mandibular almost reach 

 the gill-opening, the inner are shorter. Teeth globular on the 

 palate in two convex, oblong-ovate patches, which are slightly 

 convergent behind; none on the vorner. Fins dorsal spine of 

 moderate strength, as long as the head excluding the snout, some- 

 times with a very long soft termination, slightly serrated anteriorly, 

 or merely rough in large specimens, strongly serrated posteriorly. 



