Apodal Fishes of Bengal, 1 79 



4. ANGUILLA NEBULOSA. PI. v. Jig. 2. 



The dorsal commences rather before the anterior third of the body, 

 and at a distance in front of the anus equal to the interval from the 

 base of the pectorals to the eyes ; the head is scarcely broader than the 

 body. 



The fin rays are 



P. 20 : D. 306 : A. 248 : to the middle of the caudal. 



There are 9 or 10 long slender rays in either branchial membrane. 



Colour green above variegated with darker shades : below white. 

 Young individuals are not variegated. 



Hab. — Bengal, and Sandoway, where it is met with generally about 

 20 inches to 2 feet in length. This species differs from A. arracana 

 chiefly in the dorsal being shorter, though it contains more numerous, 

 and consequently finer, rays. 



5. ANGUILLA VARIEGATA. PI. 9.fig. 7. 



The head is triangular and broader than the body, which is variegated 

 with black irregular marks. The colour of the lower parts is white. 

 Each pectoral fin contains 24 rays. 



Hab. — Behar. 



This species is supposed by Buchanan (Gang. Fishes, p. 23,) to be Mu- 

 rcena maculata^ Lacep. (Hist, des Poissons, p. 26b,) one of the fishes of the 

 Nile. The fin rays of the Nilotic species as given by Lacepede are 

 however as follows : — 



P. 9 : or thereabouts : D. 43 : A. 36 : C. 110. 



Now Buchanan gives 24 rays to each pectoral of the Gangetjc species, 

 and although the rays of the other fins were not ascertained by him, we 

 may conclude from this fact, as well as from the excellent drawing Bucha- 

 nan has left of the Gangetic species, that it is quite distinct from that of 

 the Nile ; the more particularly as we have not been able to identify a 

 single species of the Ganges, with any of those of the Nile. The drawing 

 has been copied into Hardwicke's Illustrations of Indian Zoology by 

 Mr. Gray, under the every way erroneous name of Murcena bengalensis, 

 Buchanan expressly states, that he found it only in the Ganges, where 

 that river passes through Behar ; and I have never myself been able to 

 find it in Bengal. The drawing here given, is from Buchanan's collection. 



This species is nearly allied to that which is described, (Proc. Zool. 

 Soc. 27th Nov. 1838,) in a paper on the Fishes of the Deccan, by Colonel 

 Sykes, as Anguilla Elphinstonei. Indeed it may probably turn out to 

 be the same, in which ease the latter name will have the priority of that 

 which is here proposed. 



