66 Proceedings of the Zoological Society. 



obliged to set aside my repugnance, for three species were not referrible to 

 any one even of the numerous sub-genera which Buchanan Hamilton wish- 

 ed to establish. It only remains to state that the whole of my fishes were 

 drawn from absolute measurement, and have a scale of size attached to 

 each figure ; they were caught in the various rivers on whose banks I 

 encamped, as individuals were required; so that my draftsman, who 

 worked constantly under my own eye, never had to finish his drawings 

 from shrivelled and discoloured specimens. I have to a great extent 

 adopted the names by which the fishes are called by the Mahrattas as 

 specific names, so that naturalists who travel the country can always 

 obtain them. 



Ord. ACANTHOPTERYGII. 



Fam. Percidae. 

 Ambassis, Agass. 



Amb. Barlovi, Sykes. An Ambassis with the two back fins united, 

 with the first ray indented on the edge, and containing 7 spines, 

 and the second 14 spines ; all the spines longer than the mem- 

 brane, with 18 rays longer than the membrane in the anal fin, 

 and with a short vertically compressed diaphanous body. 

 Closely allied to Changa Ranga of Hamilton. ' Fishes of the Gan- 

 ges.' This fish is dedicated to our Secretary. 



Fam. Scombridse. 

 Mastacembelns, Gron. 



Mast, armatus, Sykes. A Mastacembelus with the fins of the tail, 

 back, and vent united, with thirty-nine to forty short sharp bony 

 spines along the back, and two behind the vent. 



This fish has not the exact generic characters of Macrognathus, 

 Mastacembelus, or Notacanthus, and might probably constitute a 

 genus between the two last. 



Fam. 'Pharyngiens Labyrinthiformes,' Cuv. 

 Ophicephalus, Bloch. 



Oph. leucopunctatus, Sykes. An Ophicephalus with from 51 to 53 

 rays in the dorsal, and 6 in each ventral fin, and with the rays 

 of the dorsal and anal fins undivided ; the pectoral fins ending in 

 a central point, and the fish covered with white dots. 

 I have never known this remarkably fine fish crawl on shore or in 

 the grass, as some species of the genus are said to do. It is 

 excellent eating. 



