186/.] COL. PLAYFAIR ON THE FISHES OF CACHAR. 1.5 



the length of the head. The length of the ventrals is less than half 

 that of the pectorals. 



Colour brownish black above, lighter below ; most of the scales 

 behind the roots of the pectorals have a round -black spot in the 

 centre. In immature specimens, 5 inches long, these spots are not 

 perceptible. Fins dark, immaculate. In young examples the pec- 

 torals have transverse darker cross bands. Length 9| inches. 



6. Anabas scandens. 



Perca sccaidens, Daldorff, Trans. Linn. Soc. iii. p, 62. 

 Cojus cobojius, Buch. Ham. pp. 98, 3/0, pi. 13. f. 33. 

 Jnabas scandens, Glinth. Fish. iii. p. 3/5. 



7. Trichogaster fasciatus. 



Trichog aster fasciatus, Bl. Schn. p. 164, t. 36 ; Giinth. Fish. iii. 

 p. 387. 



Trichopodus colisa, Buch. Ham. pp. 117, 372, pi. 1.5. f. 40. 



IT. bejeus, Buch. Ham. pp. 118, 372. 



?r. cotra, Buch. Ham. pp. 119, 372. 



? T. lalius, Buch. Ham. pp. 120, 372. 



Of the four specimens of Trichogaster received from Cachar, two 

 correspond to the commonest Indian form, S. fasciatus, while two 

 others differ considerably from it both in form and coloration. As, 

 however, this fish is very widely spread over India, and is subject to 

 considerable variations, I hesitate to describe the latter as a new 

 species. 



Trichogaster fasciatus, var. 



■^" 8— 9* 14— 16* 



Body much more elevated than in the previous variety ; its height 

 is contained once and four-fifths in the total length without caudal ; 

 the length of the head is two-fifths of the same. Prseorbital ser- 

 rated. Caudal subtruncated. The dorsal and anal fins much more 

 elevated than in any previously described variety ; the fourth spine 

 of the anal is the longest, the others decrease in length posteriorly ; 

 the longest spine of the dorsal (the last) is two-fifths, and the 

 longest of the anal (the fourth) is one-third of the height of the 

 body. The ventral filament reaches as far as the termination of the 

 anal. 



Colour of the body uniform silvery ; the posterior parts of the 

 vertical fins marked with blackish. Length 2 inches. 



I have carefully examined the original drawings of Buchanan 

 Hamilton's species in the British Museum ; but this cannot be re- 

 ferred to any of them. 



8. Clarias magur. 



Mac}'02Jteronofus magur, Buch. Ham. pp. 146, 374, pi. 26. f. 45. 

 Clarias batrachus, Bleek. Atl. Ichth. Silur. p. 103, t. 98. f. 2. 

 C. magur, Giinth. Fish. v. p. 17. 



