Four species of Fishes from the Rivers, fyc. 215 



OPEIICEPHALUS AMPHIBEUS, (J. M.) vol. I PL xl f. 3. 

 Bura Chang. 



In addition to the general characters of the genus, the fins are 

 dark, and the sides marked with twenty-four alternately dark and 

 whitish transverse bars. The length is equal to eight diameters 

 of the body taken at the pectoral fins. The ventral fins are small 

 and soft, the dorsal and anal broad, the former commencing on the 

 back just above the pectorals. The fin rays are 



P. 14: D. 48: V. 5: A. 34: C. 13. 



When alive, the dark sombre colours are relieved by minute 

 dots of vermillion and smalt blue, dispersed indiscriminately over 

 the upper parts of the body and sides, more particularly about the 

 head. 



This species is very nearly allied to Ophicephalus nigri- 

 cans, Cuv. et Val. from which it differs in containing two 

 rays less in the dorsal fin. 



When noticing this subject on a former occasion, vol. i. 

 p. 427, the circumstance of Buchanan Hamilton having 

 twenty years ago announced the fact of certain species of 

 this genus inhabiting holes in the perpendicular banks of the 

 Bramaputra, near Goalpara, was pointed out. The holes he 

 says, were those frequented by certain birds, and consequent- 

 ly raised high above the water. Other species of this genus, 

 (says the same author,) are found on the grass after heavy 

 showers of rain, and that too at a distance from water, so as 

 to be reckoned amongst those fishes which the natives of 

 India, together with many Europeans, believe to fall from 

 heaven with rain. — See Gangetic Fishes, pp. 67-8. 



As to the species here described, Mr. Russell observes, 

 that it is found in the vicinity of the Chail river, one of the 

 tributaries of the Teesta at the foot of the Boutan mountains ; 

 sometimes it is met with as much as two miles from the bank 

 of the river, where it penetrates into holes in the ground. 

 From these it probably emerges when the ground is inundat- 



