1867.] JUR. F. DAY ON INDIAN FISHKS. 299 



Profile more convex on the ventral than on the dorsal aspect, 

 which last is nearly straight. 



Cleft of mouth extending to under the anterior margin of the 

 orbit ; upper jaw broad ; the lower jaw with a well-marked knob at 

 its anterior extremity, and which is received into a rather deep 

 emargination in the centre of the upper jaw, where, when the mouth 

 is closed, it forms part of the upper profile. Upper surface of head 

 nearly flat. Nostrils generic. Prseorbital irregularly pentagonal, 

 pointing downwards and backwards, its posterior margin the longest, 

 its posterior inferior margin the shortest. 



Fins. Dorsal commences midway between the snout and the centre 

 of the caudal fin, and over the middle of the ventral, extending 

 backwards to over its posterior extremity. Caudal broad and deeply 

 lunated in its posterior half. First divided rays of dorsal and anal 

 the highest. 



Scales moderately large, some on base of both anal and caudal fins. 



Lateral line consists of single tubes ; it makes a ratber concave 

 curve downwards from the posterior superior angle of the opercle to 

 opposite the end of the pectoral fin, whence it passes parallel with 

 the abdomen to the lower third of the caudal fin. 



Teeth. Pharyngeal teeth sharp, curved, 5, 3, 2/2, 3, 5. 



Colours. Olive-green superiorly, becoming lighter on the abdo- 

 men, with a purplish gloss. A leaden-blue stripe passes from the 

 eye to the centre of the caudal fin ; it has a dull yellow edging above. 

 Fins orange. 



Said never to exceed four inches in length. It is common in the 

 Bowany River. 



This species of Rasbora differs materially from the R. neilgher- 

 riensis in its comparatively longer head, its larger eye, its moutb, 

 its preeorbital, its lateral line, and the shape of the caudal fin. 



Fishes of this genus are avoided as food by the natives of some 

 portions of the Madras Presidency whilst cholera is present, as they 

 are considered to predispose the eater to attacks of tbis scourge. 



Genus Esomus. 



I have in this place introduced a fish of this genus, of which I 

 have been favoured with many specimens captured by Mr. Assistant 

 Apothecary Everard at Trichoor, near Cochin. It is exceedingly 

 interesting, because Valenciennes' s specimen was obtained from a 

 hot spring in Ceylon, and Dr. M'Cielland's from a hot spring in 

 Bengal. Although not captured near the Neilgherries, I shall de- 

 scribe it in this place with reference to the next species. 



ESOMXJS MALABARICUS, Sp. UOV. 



B.iii. D. 2/7. P. 12. V. 9. A. 2/5. C. 19. L. I. 32. L. tr. 7. 



Length of specimens up to 3 inches. 



Length of head ^j, of pectoral 'i, of base of dorsal -^.-j, of base of 

 anal jV> of caudal | of the total length. Height of head §, of body 

 \, of dorsal ^, of anal ^ of the total length. 



