1 90 TELEOSTEI . PHTSOSTOMI. 



the palate, where they form two widely separated patches. Dorsal 

 with one spine and seven rays, inserted anteriorly to the ventrals ; 

 adipose fin short. Anal of moderate length, not united with the 

 caudal, which is forked. Ventral with six rays. Air-bladder not 

 enclosed in bone. An axillary pore. 



Geographical Distribution. Seas and estuaries of India to the 

 Malay Archipelago, sometimes entering rivers. 



Uses. Eaten by the poorer classes. A coarse isinglass is made 

 from the air-bladder. 



Synopsis of Indian Species. 



A. 19-22. Length of head 4J to 4| in the 

 total length. Greatest width of head 

 equals its length behind the angle of the 

 mouth \. O. militaris, p. 190. 



A. 20. Length of head 4f in the total length. 



Greatest width of head equals half its 



length 2. O. sthenoceji/talus, p. 191 . 



203. (1.) Osteogeniosus militaris. (Fig. 69.) 



Silurus militaris, Linn. Syst. Nat. i, p. 503. 



Osteogeniosus militaris, Day, Fish. Indii, p. 4(59, pi. cviii, tig. 4 (see 



synon.). 

 Pon6 keliti, Tarn. 



B. v. D. 1/7 | 0. P. 1/10-11. V. 6. A. 19-22 (4-5/15-17). 



C. 17. Vert, 18-29. 



Length of head 4| to 4, of caudal fin 7|, height of body 5| to 

 6| in the total length. Eyes diameter 7 in the length of head, 2 

 diameters from the end of snout, and 4 apart. The greatest width 

 of the' head equals its length behind the angle of the mouth ; its 

 height*|two thirds of its length ; the width of the gape of the 



Fig. 69. Osteogenwsus militaris. 



mouth equals half the length of the head. Occipital process 2| 

 times as long as wide at its base, and its length equals one third of 

 that of the head. Median longitudinal groove of moderate width, 

 not extending so far as the base of the occipital process. Upper 

 surface of the head almost or quite smooth, a few granulations 

 generally present between the posterior end of the median longi- 

 tudinal groove and the base of the occipital process, which last is 

 roughened in ridges which are sometimes granular ; there also 



