PRELIMINARY LIST OF FISHES OF TIRHOOT, BENGAL. 433 



brightly coloured than the female, and watches over the eggs until they are 

 hatched remaining fixed to a stone or shell by means of a pelvic sucker. 

 They are usually found in shallow water, fresh, brackish or salt. The 

 Indian species constitute a large family. 



1051. Gobius giuvis. — I received two specimens of this little fish, which 

 on first sight so closely resembled a familiar English species that I had my 

 doubts at first as to its being Indian, and though I had taken every 

 case to avoid the Indian consignment being mixed up with some British 

 fish I had, I thought I must have done so, until Mr. Boulenger identified it 

 for me as the above species. 



Rhynchobdellidce. 

 The curious fishes constituting this family are so eel-like in general 

 appearance that they have been referred to as belonging to that family by 

 some naturalists. On closer inspection, however, they differ widely 

 from the eels in many important respects. The important distinguishing 

 feature are the long dorsal fins, the anterior portion of which consists of free 

 spines, and the fleshy snout which is transversely striated beneath in Rhyn- 

 chobdella and not striated in Mastacembelus. They are found in fresh and 

 brackish waters of India, Ceylon and Burma, also Asia Minor and West 

 Africa. 



1155. Rhyncliobdella aculeata. 



Day says this species is found in brackish waters within tidal influence. 

 My specimens, of course, were taken miles away from any tidal influence. 

 I used to have several brought to me. The fish is said on good authority 

 to drown if unable to reach the upper air. It lies concealed, as a rule, in 

 mud. 



Ophiocephalid<$.' 



The family of " snake-headed " fish are peculiar to the warmer regions of 

 the old world, one species having been successfully introduced from China 

 and naturalised in Western North America. These fishes are said to be able 

 to withstand a severe drought, lying in a torpid condition in the mud until 

 the rain, filling up the hollows where they lie hid, wakes them up to life again. 

 It is these fishes that are often found in wayside puddles which the natives 

 declare are brought down with the rain. To enable the Ophiocephalidce to 

 withstand drought, a hollow cavity is present in the head, an " accessory 

 suprabranchial cavity for aerial respiration." These fishes, too, like the 

 climbing Perch (Anabas scandens) can travel over wet ground progressing in 

 a snake-like manner. 



1205. Ophiocephalus gachua. 



1206. Ophiocephalus punctatus. 



Both these fishes are common in Tirhoot and are very good eating. 

 They are called by the natives Murrel. 



