282 TKLEOSTEI. PHTSOSTOM I . 



Length of head 5>- to 6, height of body 3J- in the total length. 

 Eyes in the middle of the length of the head, diameter from 4 to 

 6 in the length of head, the width of the interorbital space equalling 

 rather above half the length of the head. Snout obtuse and 

 thickened, with a row of about 6 open pores passing across it and 

 towards the orbit. A horny covering to lower jaw. Barbels 



Fig. 97. Scmiplotus macclellcmdi. 



absent. Fins dorsal commences midway between the end of the 

 snout and the end of the base of the anal fin, its height slightly 

 exceeding half of that of the body ; its last undivided ray strong, 

 osseous, entire, and rather longer than the head excluding the 

 snout. Pectoral nearly as long as the head ; it reaches to above 

 the ventral, which is inserted below the fourth or fifth dorsal ray. 

 Anal laid flat nearly reaches the base of the caudal, which latter is 

 deeply forked. Lateral line nearly straight, 3^- rows of scales 

 between it and the base of the ventral fin. Colour leaden silver, 

 darkest superiorly ; the pectoral, ventral, and anal orange. 



Griffith observes that the smaller examples are usually found 

 near rapids, the larger in deeper water, where of an evening they 

 are seen rising, but refuse all baits. McClelland states that this 

 fish is reckoned the most delicious in Assam. I can, however, 

 record from personal observation that it is rich and very liable to 

 set up intestinal irritation. 



Hob. Rivers in Assam, especially in the upper portions of that 

 district, but found as low as Goalpara : also Burma. This species 

 is often termed Rajah-mas, or " kings' fish," in Upper Assam, as it 

 is asserted that when captured it had to be taken to the Rajahs for 

 their own consumption. As it is very common, this explanation 

 is improbable. More likely a tax was levied on its capture. It 

 attains at least two feet in length, 



