1849.] 



Fishes of Southern India. 



815 



thence nearly straight ; blueish above, yellowish on the sides, silve- 

 ry baneath, a black spot on each side of the tail occasionally ; fins 

 with a yellowish tinge ; D. 3-8, A. 7, &;c. Dorsal fin with a black 

 spot on its base behind ; 4 to 5 inches long. 



This fish is common in all the tanks and rivers in the neighbour- 

 hood of Madras, and I have not seen it elsewhere. It is probably 

 a Ca'poeta of Valenciennes. 



Systomus ampMhius. Val. ? 



Height one quarter of total length; a pair of very small labial cirri; 

 25 scales along the sides. D. 3-8, A. 7, &c. ; 4^ inches long; color 

 green above, silvery beneath, with a fine rosy streak from eye to 

 the tail along the centre of the body over the lateral line ; fins with 

 a yellowish tinge ; sometimes has a black spot on each side of the 

 tail. 



This fish, or what I take to be it, has been placed by Valencien- 

 nes in his genus Oapoeta, which he separates from the Barbels on ac- 

 count of having only 2 cirri. They form in Southern India a group 

 of very nearly allied fish, difficult to distinguish inter se, and too 

 closely joined to other species of SyStomus without cirri, to permit 

 us to retain them distinct. Our present fish I have procured in the 

 Cavery, and also in tanks in Mysore and the Carnatic. 



In some tanks it is found in great numbers. Cuvier's figure is de- 

 fective, inasmuch as it shows the spine serrated, which, however, in 

 the letter press is said to be entire. As to its being said to inhabit the 

 sea at Bombay, only coming into the paddy fields during the inun- 

 dations, I cannot help thinking there must be some mistake. It is 

 mentioned by Valenciennes as being found even one foot long. If this 

 is the case I imagine our southern fish will prove distinct. I have 

 seldom seen it above 3 or 4 inches. 



Systomus Carnaticus. (New Species.) 



Very closely allied to the last. Differs in having much longer 

 cirri, in its dorsal fin being lower, and having only 2 instead of 3 

 entire rays ; lateral line more curved, scales 24 along the sides in 7 

 rows ; blueish green above, yellowish on the cheeks and sides, and 

 reddish beneath, a large black spot on each side of the tail ; dorsal 

 fin reddish, stained with black ; other fins pale yellow. Length 

 about 3i to 4 inches. 



VOL- XY- NO, XXXY. ^ ^ 



