38 Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal. (January, 1913, 
strings, often turning over in order to nibble at them. A 
dead fish of their own species was thrown in in two pieces. 
At first they left it alone, but after about half an hour attacked 
and devoured it. They appeared to be unable to carry off any 
but the smallest particles bodily. 
As has already been pointed out D. lamta includes several 
local races in India, Assam and Burma and also occurs in 
southern Arabia. The form common in Mesopotamia, and also 
in the Helmand basin, is not D. lamta but D variabilis, Heckel, 
a very distinct species as species go in the genus. D. variabilis 
is also found in Syrian rivers. e form from Abyssinia 
referred by Blanford ! to D. lamta has been separated therefrom 
by Boulenger® under the name D. blanjo: ig It would seem 
probable that a race or races of D.lamta occur in central 
Arabia, but the ichthyology of that aay is still unknown 
and all that we can say is that one race is found in Syria and 
Palestine, another, probably identical with one from north- 
Fie. 3.—Young of Hemichromis sacer (nat. size). 
western India, near Aden, and others in Bengal, Assam and 
Burma. § 
Hemichromis sacer, Giinther. 
A young individual (fig. 4) of this species was taken in one 
of the limestone pools at Ain-et-Tineh. As this species is said 
- breed in ae my specimen was probably about four 
onths old. It measures 53 mm. in total length and is 
restos deeper thea the adult fish. The snout is also 
less prominent. The colour is silvery grey and there are nine 
or ten vertical dark bars on each side of the body. Those on 
the caudal peduncle-are somewhat indistinct. The fin-mem- 
branes are greyish, faintly marbled with white on the dorsal 
fin. There is a black spot on each operculum. 
nly other fish of which I obtained specimens were 
Clarias lazera, Cyprinodon richardsoni, C. mento, C. ne e, 
! \ Geob Zool, Abyssin., p. p. 460 ( 
(ii), 
eee s 
2 Zool. Soc. 1901 P- 160; 1903 Wi sal. Di wwe, 
Cat. Freshvate Fishes of Africa I, p. 349. aS bee A 1909 a 3 
> Tristram, hers Flor, Palest., p.168. Lortet, A Mus d’ Hist. 
Nat. ae TIL p. 149. . reh. r 
