250 APPENDIX II 



ornamented with five black bands, which are irregular in shape, and may 

 be broken up iiato large blotches ; all are continuous across the back, and 

 the middle one corresponds in position to the dorsal fin. All the fins 

 variegated with black, the black markings of the dorsal and anal fins 

 sometimes confluent into broad band-like spots. 



Two specimens of this fine gigantic species of loach were sent by 

 Mr. Pratt from Ichang. The larger measures thirteen inches in length. 



^^. Botia pratti, B^. n. D. 11. A. 8. V. 9. (Plate IV. Fig. A.) 



Barbels ei^ht, but the two symphyseal barbels are not prolonged into 

 filaments — more like a pair of soft round buttons. The height of the body 

 is leather more than one -fifth of the total length (without caudal), the 

 length of the head two-sevenths ; snout elongate, but the very small eye 

 is rather nearer to the end of the snout than to that of the operculimi. 

 The suborbital spine extends to below the hind margin of the orbit. 

 Interorbital space narrow, transversely convex, three or four times as wide 

 as the very small eye. Oi'igm of the dorsal fin midway between the root 

 of the caudal and the orbit. Caudal fin deeply forked, the lobes being as 

 long as the head ; body covered with minute but imbricate scales. Ground 

 colour brownish olive, without distinct markings on the body. Dorsal fin 

 with two blackish bands running parallel to the upper margin. Caudal 

 raj's with numerous linear black markings or without any spots ; the lower 

 fins with very mdistinct blackish markings. 



Three specimens eight inches long, from Kia-tiang-fu, 1,070 feet (foot 

 of Omie-shan), Province Sze Chuen. 



44. Botia su2Mrciliaris,STp. n. D. 11. A. 8. V. 8. (Plate IV. Fig. B.) 



Barbels eight, but the two symphyseal barbels are not prolonged into 

 filaments — more like a pair of soft round buttons. The height of the body 

 is two-ninths of the total length (without caudal), the length of the head 

 two-sevenths ; snout elongate, the small eye being rather nearer to the 

 end of the operculum than to that of the stout. The suborbital spine lies 

 in a long cleft which extends beyond the eye in both directions. Inter- 

 orbital space narrow, transversely convex, two-and-a-half times as wide 

 as the ej'e. Origin of the dorsal fin midway between the root of the 

 caudal and the eye. Caitdal fin forked, the lobes being shorter than the 

 head. Body covered with minute scales which are imbricate on the tail. 

 Ground colour light olive with broad brownish bars across the back, five 

 in front and five behind the dorsal fin. A yellowish streak on the side of 

 the snout running backwards through the superciliary region ; three 

 yellowish longitudinal lines on the crown of the head. Dorsal and 

 generally pectoral fin with a broad dark cross band well within the 

 margin. Each caudal lobe with three or four dark oblique bands. 



Five specimens six inches long, Kia-tiang-fu, 1,070 feet (foot of Omie- 

 shan), Province Sze Chuen. 



