Cohitis. 



INDIAN CYPRINID^. 



433 



Sub-Gen.— COBITIS PROPRIA, J. M. 



Head and body elongated, the former conical and invested with a 

 thick fleshy covering. Body almost cylindric, with small scales ; a clouded 

 distribution of plain colours, often brown ; caudal entire, mouth small, 

 placed below a narrow fleshy snout, and surrounded with small cirri. No 

 abdominal air-vessel. 



I. — COBITIS OCULATA, J. M. 



t. 51. f. 1. /3. 



Cohitis gongota, Buch. 



This species, like most of the Loaches, has six cirri. The eyes are promi- 

 nent and raised above the crown ; pectorals, ventrals, and caudal round ; the 

 branchial membrane is attached to the pectoral fins, as in the Gohes ; body long, 

 and marked with clouded spots of yellowish brown colour ; dorsal and caudal 

 crossed with interrupted fine bars or spots ; colour above brown, below silvery. 

 The fin rays are, 



D.ll : P.IO : V.7: A.7 : C.16. 



Buchanan makes but six rays in each ventral, and eight in the anal fin. 

 It has two suborbitar spines on either side; the stomach and intestine are 

 continuous and straight, and about half the entire length of the body. The 

 lower jaw is composed of two very slender bones attached together in front 

 by ligaments, and the air-vessel is contained in a small bony case situated 

 over the entrance to the oesophagus. It is common in small stagnant 

 streams with sandy bottoms in Upper Assam, and Buchanan found it in the 

 northern parts of Bengal near the foot of the mountains ; its usual length is 

 about six inches. 



3 K 



