OPHIOCEPHALID.*. 363 



18 inches in length, the back is greyish, sides orange-scarlet; a 

 black band through the eye to upper half of caudal fin, and a second 

 from angle of the mouth to lower half. In some, vertical bars are 

 also present. 



Jfab. Malabar and Western coast of India, Siam to the Malay 

 Archipelago ; attaining at least three feet in length. 



1203. (6.) Ophiocephalus striatus. 



Ophiocephalus striatus, Block, Ich. t. 359; Day, Fish. India, p. 366 

 (see synon.). 



Morrul, Murl, Dheri murl, Hind. ; Sol and Chena, Beng. ; Verarl and 

 Wrahl, Mai. ; Verarlu and Currupu verarl, Tarn. ; Soioarah, Tel. ; Sola, 

 Ooriah ; Koochina murl, Canarese ; Loolla, Hdl-pat-mdlu, Singhalese ; 

 Nga-ain-di, Mugh ; Ddkhu, Marathi ; Nga yan and Nga yan khoumj-to, 

 Burmese. 



D. 37-45. A. 23-26. L. 1. 50-57. L. tr. 4-7/9-7, or 5|-8/10-9. 



Length of head 3^ to 4, of caudal fin 6, height of body 6 to 8 

 in the total length. Eyes 6 to 7 in length of head, 1 diam. from 

 end of snout, and 1| apart. Teeth an inner conical row in lower 

 jaw, cardiform on palatines. Scales on summit of head large and 

 irregularly shaped ; 18 to 20 rows between snout and origin of 

 dorsal fin ; 9 rows between eye and angle of preopercle. The 

 number of rows between lateral line and dorsal fin appears subject 

 to variation. Lateral line curves downwards below twelfth 

 dorsal ray. Colour dark greyish or blackish superiorly, dirty 

 white or yellowish white beneath; cheeks and lower surface of 

 mouth streaked and spotted with grey ; bands of grey or black 

 from sides to abdomen. Some spots and bars at posterior end of 

 dorsal fin, ventrals and anal greyish, with some whitish lines or 

 spots along base of latter. In the } r oung there is occasionally a 

 large black ocellus at end of base of dorsal, and the body may be 

 destitute of any marks. 



Hob. Fresh waters throughout the plains of India, Ceylon, 

 Burma, China, and the Philippines, especially delighting in swamps 

 and grassy tanks ; attaining 3 feet or more in length. These 

 fishes take a bait very readily, especially a frog, and are said to rise 

 to a salmon-fly. 



1204. (7.) Ophiocephalus stewartii. 



Ophiocephalus stewartii, Playfair, P. Z. S. 1867, p. 14, pi. 3 ; Day, 



Fish. India, p. 367, pi. Ixxv'ii, fig. 3. 

 Sen-ya-lee, Assam. 



D. 39-40. P. 17. V. 6. A. 27. C. 14. L. 1. 47-50. L.tr. 4i-5|/9-7. 

 Length of head 4, of caudal fin 5|, height of body 7 to 8 in the 

 total length. Eyes diameter 6| in length of head, 1| diam. 

 from end of snout, and 2 apart. Teeth some conical in the lower 

 jaw, also on vomer and palate. Fins dorsal commences over 



