372 ACANTHOPTERTGII. 



the jaws, none on the 'palate. One dorsal fin, its spinous portion sometimes in excess (2-14) hut generally less in extent 

 than its soft part. Anal spines in varying numbers (5-14). Outer ventral ray long, fiUform, the remainder being 

 generally rudimenta/ry. Scales ctenoid, and of moderate size. Lateral-line, when present, uninterrupted. Air-vessel 

 present. Pyloric appendages two. 



Geographical distribution. — One species lias been introduced into India : and another is found in Assam, 

 ISr.E. Bengal, SLkkim. and Nepal. Tlie imported species, 0. olfax, is of excellent flaTour, attaining to 201bs. or 

 upwards in weight, well adapted for pisciculture, and capable of being extensively spread in tropical and extra- 

 tropical regions. It has been naturalized in the Mauritius and Cayenne : in 1864 some were imported into 

 Australia, and in 1866 into Madras and on to the Neilgherry hills. Commerson who observed it in the ' 

 Mauritius in 1770, states that he never eat any fish more exquisite in flavour whether froni the sea or fresh 

 water : he also added that in Batavia the Dutch reared them in large earthen pots, changing the water daily 

 and feeding them on nothing but fresh water plants, especially the Pistia nutans. 



General Hardwicke (Zool. Journ. iv, p. 309), gives an account of the breeding of this fish, apparently 

 monogamous : he observes, they commence at six months of age, whilst their fecundity is astonishing. During the 

 breeding season they frequent the sides of tanks, where shelter is afforded them by the grasses and weeds 

 growing in the water. For several days they are very active, passing in and out of their grassy cover, and iii 

 -some places thickening it, by entangling all trailing shoots, and forming what is generally considered the spot 

 under which the ova are deposited. They continue to watch this place with the greatest vigilance, driving away 

 any interloping fish, and at the end of a mouth numerous fry appear, over which the old gouramies keep watch 

 many days. 



Uses. — As already observed they are excellent as food, -but must not be allowed access to foul substances 

 or they will consume them, and may thus be rendered unwholesome. 



SYNOPSIS OF SPECIES. 



1. Osphromenus olfax, D. ^Iff-, A. T-flif, L. 1. 30-38, L. tr. ^, China, fresh waters of the Malay 

 Archipelago, introduced into the Mauritius, Cayenne, and India. 



2. Osphromenus nobilis, D. -i:f , A. g-g^YT' I'- !• 28-31, L. tr. -^. Brown, with three irregularly interrupted 

 silvery longitudinal bands. N.E. portions of Bengal and Assam. 



1. Osphromenus olfax, Commierson, Plate LXXIX, fig. 6. 



Osphromenus gourami, Lacep. ui, p. 117, pi. iii, f. 2. 



Trichopodus mentum, Lacep. iii, p. 125, pi. iii, f. 3. 



Trichopus gowrami and satyrus, Shaw, Zool. iv, pp. 388, 391, pi. 55. 



Osphromenus olfax, Hard. Zool. Journ. iv, p. 309, pi. 36 ; Cuv. and Val. vii, p. 377 ; Swainson, Fishes, ii, 

 p. 236 ; Richards. loh. China, p. 251 ; Bleeker, Verh. Bat. Gen. xxiii, p. 10 ; Cantor, Catal. p. 88 ; Giinther, 

 Catal. iii, p. 382 ; Peters, Monat. Akad. Berlin, 1868, p. 260. 



Osphromenus gourami, Cuv. and Val. vii, p. 377, pi. 198 (immature). 



B. vi, D. ii-:if, P. 15, V. 1/5, A. T-|:iA, C. 16, L. 1. 30-38, L. tr. i=|. Vert. 12/18-19. 



Length of head 1/4, caudal 1/5, height of body 1/3 of the total length, ^yes— diameter about 1/4 of 

 length of head, li diameters from end of snout and 2 apart. Body oblong, elevated and compressed, the 

 abdominal profile more convex than the dorsal, and a slight concavity over the orbit. The posterior extremity 

 of the maxilla extends to beneath the anterior edge of the orbit. In the immature the preorbital finely and evenly 

 serrated, as is also the lower margin of the preopercle. Fins — dorsal spines increasing in length and strength 

 to the last, the sixth and seventh rays the longest : first or second anal ray sometimes produced in the immature : 

 pectoral and caudal rounded: first ventral ray reaches the base of the caudal. Colours — greenish-brown, 

 becoming lighter on the abdomen : four or five vertical bands extend from the back to the abdomen in the 

 immature : a reddish-brown tinge on the lower surface of the head and chest : base of pectoral fin black in the 

 young ; where glands open on the head there are black spots or stars. 



Habitat.-— Chma,, and fresh waters of the Malay Archipelago. Natm-alized in Mauritius, Cayenne, 

 Australia, and introduced into some parts of India, viz. near Calcutta, Madras, and the Neilgherries. Attains 

 20 lbs. or more in weight and is excellent eating when kept in clean water. The specimen figured is one from 

 the Neilgherry hills, and is 11 4 inches in length. 



2. Osphromenus nobilis, Plate LXXVIII, fig. 5. 

 Gtenops nobilis, McClelland, Cal. Journ. Nat. Hist, v, p. 281, pi. 21, f. 1. 

 Trichopodus nobilis. Cantor, Malayan Fishes, p. 91. 

 Osphromerms nobilis,* Day, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1869, p. 519. 

 B. vi, D. fif, P. 12, V. 1/5, A. ^?^, C; 16, L. 1. 28-31, L. tr. 6/12, Ccec. pyl. 2. 



^•7 1 -p * "/■ ,^"°"^®^ recorded : " Osphromenus. Surgepu Pay describes what he states to be the Ctenops noUUs of McClelland," 

 t/.ool. liecord 1869, p. 133). The only specimen of this iish which I have seen in any Continental Museum was at Berlin, it had been 

 received in exchange from the British Museum as " Osphromenus olfa-e, young, India " 



