298 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



On Pristolepis marginatus, Jerd. 

 To the Editors of the Annals and Magazine of Natural History. 



Gentlemen, — Some time since, Dr. Gunther founded the genus 

 Catopra on a freshwater fish from Siam ; and he has recently added 

 another species to the genus, from the west coast of India, under the 

 name of Catopra malabariea. 



In 1849 or 1850 I described that very genus under the name of 

 Pristolepis, founding it on the identical species lately described by 

 him from the Malabar coast, which I named Pristolepis marginatus. 

 It is very possible that Dr. Giinther may not have seen my paper on 

 the freshwater fishes of Southern India, published in the ' Madras 

 Journal of Literature and Science'; but it is quite as likely that he 

 has seen and ignored it ; and I therefore beg to call his attention to 

 it, as well as that of other naturalists who may not be disposed to 

 treat so slightingly the labours of fellow-workers in natural science, 

 writing under every disadvantage in a foreign land. It is very pos- 

 sible that the generic name bestowed by me may have been pre- 

 viously applied, in which case Dr. Giinther's name will stand. This 

 fish, I may remark, is found in rapid rivers in Malabar, and also in 

 the elevated region of the Toynaad, the waters of which flow into the 

 Cauvery, on the eastern coast of India. It frequents chiefly rapids ; 

 and I have taken it with bait. I have not seen it longer than 

 9 or 10 inches. 



Some two or three years ago Dr. Giinther contributed a short 

 paper to the Zoological Society, remarking on the extension of several 

 marine genera of fishes to Nepal, apparently on the strength of cer- 

 tain specimens in Mr. Hodgson's collection. I have not the paper 

 now by me to refer to ; but among others were Therapon and, I 

 think, Scatophagus. I need hardly say that the extension of any of 

 those marine and estuary fishes to Nepal is perfectly mythical ; and 

 I am sure that Mr. Hodgson himself would not countenance the idea 

 for one moment. He probably purchased the fishes at Calcutta. 



I intended at the time I saw this paper to have sent you a note on 

 the subject, and indeed wrote out a short paper; but it was delayed 

 through some cause or other. 



I am. Gentlemen, yours obediently, 

 Srinuggur, Cashmere, T. C. Jerdon, 



Aug. 7, 1865. Surgeon-Major. 



[In answer to the above statements, we have received the following 

 from Dr. Giinther. — Ed. Ann. Nat. Hist.] 



1 . It is scarcely necessary to say that Mr. Jerdon is in error in 

 believing that the genus Catopra was founded by me ; it was esta- 

 blished by Dr. Bleeker in 1 85 1 . 



2. Mr. Jerdon's paper on Indian Fishes is known to me ; the 

 description of Pristolepis, however, bears so much the stamp of 

 being written " under every disadvantage in a foreign land," that 

 neither I myself nor Dr. Bleeker were able to recognize Catopra in it. 



