474 Dr. A. Giinther on a new Siluroid Fish from Ceylon. 



fore be satisfied with mentioning here that this species is, cu- 

 riously enough, so closely allied to the A. fissus, that, but for 

 the remoteness of their respective habitats, we should almost 

 have hesitated to separate them specifically. The female may 

 be externally distinguished by a broad oblique fold of the skin 

 on the inner side of the ventral fins. The second species is 



Arius Layardi, sp. n. Plate XV. 



This species is closely allied to A. tonggol and A. argyropleu- 

 ron, from the East-Indian archipelago, but differs in having no 

 trace of vomerine teeth, and in possessing longer maxillary 

 barbels. 



D. lyr. A. 18. P. 1/11. 



The height of the body is contained four times and four- 

 fifths in the total length (without caudal), the length of 

 the head three times and one-third ; head depressed, broader 

 than high, its width being three-fifths of its entire length, 

 or equal to its length without snout. Head above nearly 

 entirely covered by skin, only the ridge of the occipital pro- 

 cess being granular. Occipital process triangular, with the 

 lateral margins straight, longer than broad ; it is raised into a 

 median ridge along the middle, which, on the head, is continued 

 as a narrow, deep, uninterrupted groove, terminating on the 

 snout. Basal bone of the dorsal spine narrow. Vomerine teeth 

 none ; teeth on the palate coarsely granular, in two pear-shaped 

 groups, situated as far back as in A. tonggol (see Giinth. Fish. 

 V. p. 164), and much convergent behind. Snout much de- 

 pressed, produced; the upper jaw somewhat prominent, but 

 rather shorter than the postorbital portion of the head. The 

 maxillary barbels extend to the root of the pectoral. The 

 soft dorsal fin is as high as the body ; its spine is rather slen- 

 der, as long as the head without snout; granulated in front 

 and serrated behind. Pectoral spine as strong as, and rather- 

 shorter than, that of the dorsal fin. Caudal deeply forked, with 

 the lobes subequal in length. Colour immaciilate. 



A male, 11 inches long, is in the collection. 



We may add the Ceylonese names of several species sent by 

 Mr. Boake: — Ilallia=^^roj5?MS maculatus', Qov^\Q.=Etroplus 

 surafensis ; Loola = Ophiocephalus striatus ; Connia = Ophioce- 

 phalus Kelaartii ', I{oongSi= Claj-ias Teysmanni ; Kamaya = ^wa- 

 bas oligolepis ; Pooloota = Poly acanthus signatus ; Kanaya = 

 Channa orientalis. 



The Cyprinoids will be described in the seventh volume of 

 the ' Catalogue of Fishes.^ 



