484 PHTSOSTOMI. 



out the moTitli of each of these trumpets. The large obliquely transverse splints (they are sometimes turned 

 backwards) meet -mthin a line and a half below the centrum of the atlas, between and behind the splfaits. This 

 and the next centrum are deeply grooved." 



OeogrwpUcal distribution. — Throughout Africa and [western Asia to India, "Ceylon, Burma, Siam, the 

 Malay Archipelago, Hong-Kong, the Philippiaes and beyond. These fish being amphibious live for some time 

 after removal from their native element. 



Uses. — Considered by the natives of India as exceedingly wholesome and invigorating. 



SYNOPSIS OF SPECIES. 



a. Vertical fins confluent witTi the caudal. 



1. Glorias jagviT, D. S3, A. 60. 



h. Vertical fins not united to the coMdal. 



2. Glan-ias T&ysmarmi, D. 70-77, A. 63-63. Vomerine teeth obtuse. Ceylon, Java. 



3. Clarias Dussvmieri, D. 69-70, A. 60-69. Pectoral spine externally serrated. Vomerine teeth very 

 obtuse. Malabar, Ppndicherry to the Malay Archipelago. 



4. Glarias magur, D. 62-76, A. 46-68. Vomerine teeth viUiform. India, Burma, and Ceylon to the 

 Malay Archipelago. 



6. Glarias Assamensis, D. 64-68, A. 46-60. Vomerine teeth obtuse and in two pyriform bands. 

 Assam. 



A. Vertical fims confluent with the caudal. 

 1. Clarias jag;ur. 



Macropteronotus jagwr, Ham. Buch. Fish. Ganges, pp. 146, 374. 

 Clarias jagwr, Cuv. and Val. xv, p. 388 ; Bleeker, Beng. p. 58. 



D. 53, P. 1/7, V. 6, A. 50, C. 14. 



" On the crown of the head is one oval cavity." Nasal barbels as long as the head, maxillary slightly 

 longer : the two outer mandibular are a little longer than the inner, and reach to the back of the head. 

 Teeth — it is stated there are none on the palate. Golours — superiorly blackish-green, below whitish, whilst the 

 sides are slightly variegated with clouds. The fins are of the same colour with the parts on which they 

 are inserted. 



This fish I have never seen although I have searched for it in numerous places, the nearest approach has 

 been a mutilated G. magur. Hamilton Buchanan does not record where he procured it, and on examining his 

 MSS. list of fishes obtained in each several district, no allusion is made to it, neither is a figure of it amongst 

 his drawings. It is probably therefore an estuary form. 



Habitat. — ? It is said to be larger than G. magur, attaining a foot-and-a-half in length. 



B. Vertical fins not confluent with the aoMdal. 



2. Clarias Teysmanni. 



Bleeker, Nat. Tyds. Ned. Ind. xiii, p. 344, Prod. Silur. p. 348, and Atl. Ich. Silur. p. 104, t. 99, f. 1 ; 

 Giinther, Catal. v, p. 19. 



? Glarias hrachysoma, Giinther, Catal. v, p. 20. 



B. xi, D. 70-77, P. y.Vo, V. 6, A. 63-63, C. 17, Vert. 16/41. 



Length of head to end of opercle 5 to 6^, height of body 6| to 7\ in the total length, ^jres— situated 

 in the commencement of the second third of the total length of the head to the end of the occipital process. 

 The greatest width of the head equals its length to hind edge of opercle. Head nearly smooth. Occipital 

 process 2/3 as long as wide at its base. Ba/rhels — the nasal as long as the head, the maxillary reach the end of 

 the pectoral fin, the mandibular ones are shorter. Teeth — those on the vomer somewhat obtuse, forming 

 a crescentic band which in its centre is of about equal width to the premaxillary band. Fins — ^the pectoral 

 extends nearly to below the origin of the dorsal fin, its spine moderately strong, more than 2/3 the length of the 

 fin, rugose or finely serrated along its outer edge, serrated internally. Caudal free. CoZowrs— brownish. 



Amongst the types of G. hrachysoma, in the British Museum, the number of anal rays vary from 53 to &Q, 

 the fish appears to me to be similar to G. Teysmamrd. 



Habitat. — Ceylon and Java. 



3. Clarias Dussumieri. 



Cuv. and Val. xv, p. 382 ; Jerdon, M. J. L. and Sc. 1849, p. 342 ; Day, Pishes of Malabar, p. 197. 

 Gla/nas melanoderma, Bleeker, Silur. Batav. p. 54, and Prod. Sil. p. 341, and Atl. Ich. Silur. p. 102, t. 97, 

 f. 2 ; Giinther, Catal. v, p. 19. f ' f > > 



Glarias (meloMosoma) melasoma, Bleeker, Nat. Tyds, Ned. Ind. iii, p. 427, 

 B. xi, D. 69-70, P. 1 V. 6, A. 50-69, C. 16. 



