OPHIOCEPIlALIDjE. 365 



D. 29-32. P. 17. A. 21-23. C.12. L.I. 37-40. L. tr. 4-5/9 | 9/6. 



Length of head 3^ to.3|, of caudal fin 5j to 6|, height of body 5| 

 to 7 in the total length. Eyes diameter 7 to 8| in length of 

 head, 1 to ]| diam. from end of snout, and If to 2 apart. Teeth 

 a posterior row of four or five conical ones in lower jaw. Fins 

 pectoral half length of head or even more, reaching to above 

 origin of anal ; ventral | as long as pectoral. Dorsal f height of 

 body, and a little higher than anal. Scales on summit of head 

 large and of irregular shapes ; 12 rows between snout and origin 

 of dorsal, five rows between eye and angle of opercle. Lateral 

 line. with a slight curve above fourth anal ray. Colour varies 

 with the water. Back greenish, becoming yellow on sides and 

 abdomen, with a dark stripe along side of head ; several bands 

 from back pass downwards to middle of body. Pins spotted, ver- 

 tical fins with a narrow light edge and dark basal band ; ventral s 

 white or grey. Some specimens have scattered black spots over 

 the body and head. 



Hob. Fresh waters, generally in the plains of India, stagnant 

 preferred to running. This species attains to about a foot or a 

 little more in length. I found a female, in February, containing 

 upwards of 4700 large, besides some small ova. Ceylon (Gunther). 



2. Genus CHANNA, Gronovius. 



Differs from Ophioeephalus in the absence of ventral fins and 

 caeca! appendages. 



Geographical Distribution. Ceylon and China. 



1207. (1.) Channa orientalis. (Fig. 119.) 



Channa orientalis, SI. Schn. p. 490, t. 90, fig. 2; Day, Fish. India, 

 p. 368, pi. Ixxviii, fig. 2 (see synon.). 



D. 34. P. 14. A. 22. C. 14. L. 1. 41. L. tr. 3|-4^/7-6. 



Length of head 3| to 4^, height of body 6| to 8 times in total 

 length. Eyes diameter 5 in length of head, 1 diam. frcm end of 

 snout, and 1^ apart. Teeth some enlarged in the lower jaw. 



Fig. 119. Channa orientalis. 



Fins pectoral equals length of postorbital portion of head. Scales 

 with longitudinal striated and raised lines. Colour dirty 

 greenish superiorly, dull white or brown on sides and beneath ; 



