DISTEIBUTION OF INDIAN FRESHWATER FISHES, 341 



jump over. Pelicans and cormorants were numerous and con- 

 stantly devouring the spoil ; but it was very curious to see how 

 when fish sprang out of the water the birds opened their mouths, 

 but sheered off to a respectful distance, evidently dreading the fall 

 of the spined Siluroids on themselves. I have taken the sea- 

 snake {Enhydrina) with the pectoral spine of an Arius projecting 

 through its integuments from the intestinal canal. 



There is also a difference perceptible in the manner in which 

 some at least of Siluroids deposit their eggs.. The marine and 

 estuary Arius and its allies have large eggs ; and as they are fre- 

 quently found in the mouths of the males, whilst their intestines 

 are destitute of food, it appears probable that they either carry 

 them about in that manner for protection until hatched, or else 

 remove them from what they consider to be a dangerous locality\ 

 In the freshwater species, on the contrary, we find the eggs very 

 small ; and the difference between those of the marine Arius and 

 freshwater Macrones is very striking. 



Eegarding their respiration, I have already pointed out^ that 

 some, as Saccohranchus and Clarias, are truly amphibious, whereas 

 I have no reason for believing that any of the other genera of 

 Siluroids in India are so. 



Amongst the Siluridae, we know of thirty-one genera repre- 

 sented in India, Burma, and Ceylon ; and of these we have twenty- 

 six wholly or entirely confined to fresh water. 



1. Macrones', Z)wwzer«7. The fishes of which this extensive genus 

 is comprised extend through most parts of Asia, more especially 

 in the tropics. They are numerous in the fresh waters of Sind, 

 the whole of Hindustan, Ceylou, and Burma, and are common 

 through Siam to the Malay archipelago. 



2. LiocASSis*, BleeJcer. Eastern Bengal and Assam to the 

 Malay archipelago. 



3. Erethistes^, Mailer 6f Henle. These small fishes are found 

 from Orissa and Bengal, through Assam and Burma. M'Clelland 

 also records a species from Chusan. 



4. EiTA^, Bleeker. These fishes are found in the Indus and 



^ See paper by Prof. Turner, Camb. Jour, of Anat. and Zool. vol. i. p. 78. 

 ^ Journal Linn. Soc. Zool. vol. xiii. No. 68, p. 198, 



^ Includes : — Bagrus, pt., Cuvier & Valenciennes ; Hypselobagrus, Hemihagrus, 

 Pseudobagrus, and Aspidobagrus, Bleeker. 



* Includes Rama, Bleeker ; and see note to species. 



2 Includes Hara, Blyth. * Includes Gogrius, Day. 



