1849.] 



Fishes of Southern India. 



less in the anal. If distinct, it is probably from some of the streams 

 of South Malabar, and I remember taking a fish in a stream at 

 the foot of the Khoondah ghaut which appeared to be at first sight 

 identical with O. bendelisis, and which circumstance surprised me not 

 a little, as I had never seen that fish except in the tributaries of the 

 Cavery : unfortunately my fish was destroyed by ants before I had 

 thoroughly examined it. 



Opsarius Malabaricus. New Species. ' 



Head one-fourth of total length, height 3f times in length, profile of 

 back similar to that of abdomen, gently arched ; lateral line not 

 much bent, dorsal with 1st ray inserted exactly in the middle of the 

 body — D. 14, A. 16 — 40 scales along the sides in 13 rows ; 1. 1. in 

 the 9th. Dusky green above with crimson reflections, sides golden, 

 with a row of 10 beautiful blue round spots ; silvery on the cheeks 

 and beneath ; dorsal fin blackish, edged with bright orange, rays 

 glittering small blue ; caudal blackish, edged with white ; anal as 

 dorsal but with some white mixed with the orange ; pectoral and 

 ventral nearly colourless, with blue rays, and sometimes tipped with 

 orange ; 5 or 6 inches long, usually smaller. 



This very beautiful fish is found in most of the streams that run 

 from the western ghauts into North Malabar, not descending far 

 from the base of the hills, and keeping chiefly to the streams. It 

 takes fly very readily. 



Opsarius Canarensis. New Species. 



Head is about one-fourth of the total length, and the depth is two 

 times and two-thirds in the same, eye large ; lateral line gently bent; 

 dorsal fin nearly medial ; 36 scales along the sides in 10 rows — D. 

 12, A.. 14 — green above with purple reflections, golden on sides 

 and beneath, with a double row of green spots on the sides ; dorsal, 

 anal, and caudal fins black at the base, white externally ; pectoral 

 orange tipped ; ventral colourless — about 5 inches long. Found in 

 all the streams that run from the ghauts into Canara. Takes the fly 

 readily. 



The two last Opsarii, and 0. hendelisis, form a peculiar group 

 marked, among other points, by the black stained fins. My next spe- 

 cies difiers much in form and habit. 



