cclvi 



Burma, but most numerous in situations but little removed from tidal in- 

 fluence. Attains to 8 inches in length. 



Genus POLYACANTHUS, Cuv. and Val. 



Branchiostegals six: pseudobranchice glandular or absent. Body 

 oblong, compressed. Mouth small and but little protractile. Opercles spine- 

 less. Teeth small and fixed in the jaws ; palate edentulous. Dorsal fin 

 single, the spinous portion of much greater extent than the soft : the anal of 

 a similar character: ventral with one spine and five well developed rays, some 

 of which are usually elongate. Scales rather large, ctenoid. Lateral line 

 interrupted, partially or even entirely absent. Air-vessel simple. Pyloric 

 appendages few. 



29. Polyacanthus cupanus, Cuv. and Val. Punnum, Tarn. B. vi. 



D. -57, A. i^in, L. 1. 29-32,, L. tr. TI. Greenish, fins barred, with a dark 



spot at the base of the caudal, and the prolonged ventral ray scarlet. 

 Found in ditches, irrigated fields, and shallow fresh and brackish -waters, 

 but slightly above tidal influence, both on the Coromandel and Malabar 

 sides of the Madras Presidency. It rarely exceeds 3 inches in length. 



Genus OSPHROMENUS, Comm. 

 Trichopus, Lace'p. 



Branchiostegals six. Body moderately elevated, compressed. Opercle 

 spineless : opercular pieces finely serrated in the immature. Mouth small, 

 protractile. Teeth in jaws fine and fixed ; palate edentulous. A single 

 dorsal fin, its spinous portion sometimes in excess, but usually less in ex- 

 tent than its soft part : anal spines in varying numbers. Outer ventral ray 

 long, filiform ; the remainder mostly rudimentary. Scales of moderate size, 

 ctenoid. Lateral line interrupted or absent. Air-vessel present. Pyloric 

 appendages two. 



30. Osphromemis nobilis, McClell. D. H, A. ^ L. 1. 28-30. 

 Lateral line absent Two white bands along the sides, and a third 

 along the base of the anal fin. A small fish, found in the north and 

 north-east portions o Bengal. 



Genus TRICHOGASTER, Bl. Schn. 



Trichopodus, Ham. Buch. ; Colisa, Cuv. and Val. 



Branchiostegals five. Branchial arches with toothed tubercles. Oper- 

 cle spineless : pre-opercle serrated, as is also usually thepre-orbital. Mouth 

 small and but little protractile. Teeth small, fixed in the jaws; palate 

 edentulous. A single dorsal fin, the spinous of much greater extent than 

 the soft : anal spines similar, but the rayed portion more developed : ventral 

 fin consisting of one long filiform ray. Scales of moderate size, ctenoid. 

 Air-vessel bifid posteriorly, the two ends being prolonged. Pyloric appendages' 

 few. 



31. Trichogasterfasciatus,~B\. Schn. Run-gee, Panj.: Pich-ru, Sind : 

 Kussuafi and Coilia, Ooriah : Ponundi, Tel. : Nga-pin -thick -kouk and Nqa- 



phyin-thaleb, Burm. B. vi. D. ^E, A. ffii^, L. 1. 30-31. Greenish, banded, 

 and some of the fins red-spotted. This little fish extends throughout 



