1851.] 



Icthyological Gleanings in Madras. 



139 



This species has been described by Cuvier and Valenciennes 

 who procured it at Pondicherry, but I have forgotten to mark the 

 name on my drawing. It is a very beautiful fish and I have pro- 

 cured it several times. It is very excellent eating. 



Histiophorus Indicus, C. V. Myl nim (i. e. Peacock Fish), T. I 

 procured one or two specimens of this magnificent fish while at Ma- 

 dras, and sent a very fine one to the British Museum — The figure and 

 description by Cuvier give a very imperfect representation of the fish. 

 The dorsal fin is much raised especially about the centre and is of 

 the most beautiful bright prussian blue with dark spots : the colour 

 of the body is steel blue, white beneath ; other fins dusky black D. 



In one fish the rays were as follow. D. 40-6. A 8-6, In an- 

 other D. 37-6. A. 12-6. 



Trichiurus naumela, C. V. Wale, T. Russ. 41. 



Trichiurus savala, C. V. Sa-vale, T. 



Both of these fish are exceedingly abundant at Madras, but more 

 especially on the Malabar Coast. They afford very delicate eat- 

 ing when fresh, though never brought to the table of Europeans. 



Elacate pondiceriana, C. V. Kadavara, T. Russ. 153, a large fish 

 4 feet long. 



I have seen a drawing of another species in possession of W. 

 Elliot, Esq. which is evidently E. Bivittata C. V, 



A species of Echeneis is not uncommon at Madras and is some- 

 times called by the same name as the last,by others named Wottoode, 

 T. or Oorowa kootti. 



Xiphichthys Russelii Sw. Russ. 39. I one day procured two 

 specimens of the very curious species of gymnotus which Swainson 

 has named from Russell's figure, which however is very defective. 

 Its tail ends in a long bilament, and the dorsal and anal fins are 

 much higher than is there represented. 



Cepola . I goftone specimen only of a very pretty 



species of Pubben fish at Madras. It was red silvered and had 

 two series of yellow spots on its sides. 



Ammodytes — — . I have a drawing of a fish got at 



Madras which appears to belong to this genus. It is of a reddish 

 colour streaked longitudinally with white, tail deeply forked, 37 

 rays in the dorsal and 14 in the anal fin. 



