1858.] Proceedings of the Asiatic Society. 283 



D. 12-14.— A. 3-8.— P. 18.— V. 1-5.— C. 1-16. 



The first dorsal spine is short, about half the length of the second, 

 which is two-fifths that of the third, which nearly equals the fourth and 

 longest : thence the spinous portion of the fin slopes gradually backward ; 

 and the soft portion is as high as the seventh spine and nearly even. The 

 first anal spine is short, the second long and robust and much flattened, 

 and the third one-sixth shorter than the second and much less robust. 

 Ventral spine longer and more slender than the third anal. Pectorals 

 pointed, their tips reaching to the vent. Ventrals also pointed, termi- 

 nating in a slight filament. Tail scarcely furcate. Scales of the body 

 somewhat large, especially below the lateral line ; numbering about 20 in 

 oblique series descending from the first dorsal spine : those composing 

 the lateral line are about 50 in number. 



Colour bright silvery, with a pink iridescence along the back and above 

 the eyes ; the membrane of the dorsal fin spotted with dusky, becoming 

 nearly or quite obsolete in large individuals. Rest of the fins white, the 

 tail slightly suffused with dusky towards its tip. Irides white with 

 brilliant nacreous lustre. Our largest specimen measures 17k in* in 

 length, with longest dorsal spine 2f in. In small specimens (3 in. long), 

 about 9 or 10 transverse bands are faintly discernible on the body, traces 

 of which appear in larger individuals, broken up into spots more or less 

 obscure. As seen on a fish-stall, the brilliancy of the silvery hue of this 

 species attracts attention even from a distance, considerably surpassing 

 that of the common Datnia aegentea, and equalling that of the rarer 

 Gerees POETiE. Should both genus and species prove new, as I suspect, 

 this fish may be named Polotus nitidus, nobis. 



The Siluroid fishes have engaged my particular attention; but the 

 following species only have been procured in the bazar. 



Wallago Russelli, Bleeker : Silurus boalis, B. H. ; S, wallagoo, Val., 

 &c. Extremely common : attaining to an immense size. 



W. pabda ; Silurus pabda, B. H. : <S. microcephalus, Val. Pdbda of 

 Bengalis, and certainly the true pabda of Buchanan Hamilton. Common : 

 attaining to 9 or 10 in. long, at most.* 



Schilbe garua ; Silurus garua, B. H. Common : attaining to 14 in, 

 in length. 



Ailia coila ; Malapterurus coila, B. H. : Malapterus (Ailia) benga- 

 lensis, Gray ; Ailia bengalensis, Val., &c. Common. 



Bageus aoe ; Pimelodus aor, B. H. Tolerably common. 



B. aorellus, nobis, n. s. Hitherto confounded with the preceding, but a 



* W. anastomus, (Val.), is also enumerated from Calcutta by Dr. Bleeker. 



2 p 2 



