1867.] MR. F. DAY ON NEW INDIAN FISHES. 70o 



I g diameter from end of snout, 1 1 diameter apart, and | of a dia- 

 meter from the dorsal profile. 



Body compressed. Dorsal and abdominal profiles equally convex. 



Head compressed, and having an elevated central ridge. Prseorbital 

 wide, equal in extent to 1^ diameter of the orbit. Prseopercle — its 

 posterior limb rather oblique ; its lower margin lineated towards the 

 edge, which is crenulated. Sub- and interopercles also crenulated. 



Teeth in numerous villifonn rows, of equal size in both jaws, with 

 a slight interval at symphysis. A triangular patch of villiform teeth 

 on the vomer ; and a long narrow band of the same character on the 

 palate. 



Fins. Pectoral rather in advance of the origin of the dorsal and 

 ventral ; anal arises under about the sixth ray of the second dorsal. 

 First dorsal nearly triangular ; second dorsal highest anteriorly, its 

 upper margin rather concave in its first portion, subsequently 

 parallel with the back. Pectoral falciform, reaching to opposite the 

 tenth dorsal ray. Dorsal spines weak, the first very short, the third 

 and fourth the longest. First ray of second dorsal the longest in 

 the fin; the last does not quite reach the base of the caudal. Anal 

 spines weak, the second the longest. 



Scales cover the body, under the eyes, and the upper portion of 

 the opercles ; tiiere are none on the chest. There is a moderately 

 high sheath to the dorsal and anal fins. 



Lateral line with a very moderate curve to opposite the thirteenth 

 dorsal ray, whence it becomes straight. The keel is slightly deve- 

 loped — in fact, being only very distinct on the last eight scales. A 

 lateral ridge on either side of the keel on the root of the caudal. 



Csecal appendages very numerous. 



Colours. Of a dusky greyish, with innumerable fine black points, 

 and generally glossed with purple. A well-marked black spot uj)on 

 the operculum. Fins nearly black, especially the dorsal. 



This description is that of a male specimen. 



Of the genus Panchax, Cuv. & Val., I have obtained two species 

 at Madras, and one from Malabar. Before describing these, I may 

 remark that I have not as yet met with the Panchax (Esox) pan- 

 chax, Buch. Ham. 



The Panchax lineatum, C. & V., is exceedingly common in Mala- 

 bar ; but I have not taken it as yet on the Madras side of the 

 Western Ghawts. 



The Panchax (Aplocheilus) rubrostigma, Jerdon, and another 

 species which I am unable to refer to any existing description, and 

 have therefore considered new, are both exceedingly common in all 

 tanks, streams, and pieces of fresh water around Madras. 



These two species are very dissimilar in their appearance ; and I 

 have kept a number in an aquarium, where they grow rapidl}' and 

 become very tame. They are carried in water with great diflficulty, 

 and rapidly die when out of their native element. They swim very 

 close to the surface of the water, and appear to require a large 

 amount of oxygen. 



