193 



206. (1.) Akysis pictus. 



Akysispictus, Giinther,A. M. N. H. (5) xi. 1883, p. 138; Day, Fish. 

 India, Supplement, 1888, p. 806. 



D. 1/6 | 0. P. 1/7. V. 6. A. 9. 



Head broader than deep. Eyes twice as far from the gill-opening 

 as from the end of the snout. The distance of the anterior nostrils 

 apart equals about half the length of the snout, while the interspace 

 between the anterior and posterior nostril equals half that between 

 the front pair. Barbels nasal half as long as the head, maxillary 

 reaching to the origin of the dorsal fin, the outer mandibular to 

 the axil of the pectoral, the inner are shorter. Fins dorsal com- 

 mencing midway between -the snout and the adipose fin, its spine 

 comparatively strong. Anal arising nearer to the root of the caudal 

 than to that of the pectoral. Caudal emarginate ; pectoral extend- 

 ing a little beyond the origin of the dorsal, its spine strong and 

 entire ; ventrals reaching the vent. Colour head greyish, with 

 minute black spots ; body anteriorly black ; this colour is contracted 

 behind into an irregular band that runs along the middle of the 

 posterior part of the body and tail. Dorsal fin with a black band 

 covering all but its front corner and upper edge; caudal and 

 pectoral banded. 



Hob. Tenasserim ; growing to 45 millim. long (1*8 inches). 



27. Genus BAGARIUS, Bleeker. 



Brauchiostegals twelve. Gill-inembranes not confluent with the 

 skin of the isthmus, having a free posterior edge and notched half- 

 way to the chin. Head depressed, its upper surface osseous. 

 Mouth anterior; upper jaw the longer. Eyes with free orbital 

 margins. Nostrils approximating, the posterior provided with a 

 barbel. Barbels eight one nasal, one maxillary, and two man- 

 dibular pairs. Teeth in jaws pointed and of unequal size ; palate 

 edentulous. Thorax destitute of any adhesive apparatus. First 

 dorsal fin in advance of the ventrals, having one spine and six 

 ravs ; adipose fin present. Ventral with six rays. Anal of moderate 

 length. Caudal deeply forked. Air-bladder small, consisting of 

 two rounded portions enclosed in bone. An axillary pore. 



The air- or swim-bladder of this fish is present, but small. Taylor 

 (' Gleanings in Science/ ii, p. 1 72) remarks that the P. bayharia 

 (Bayarius yarrellii) " has also two air-bladders, which closely 

 resemble the former (Saccobranchus, &c.) in the argentine tendinous 

 texture of the external coat, and in having no communication with 

 each other or with the alimentary canal. They are situated one on 

 each side of the body, in a deep groove or furrow of the con- 

 solidated transverse processes of the cervical vertebra), and are 

 extremely small in proportion to the bulk of the fish ; each of them, 

 in an individual weighing 10 Ibs., not exceeding a large garden-pea 



