1849.] 



Fishes of Southern India. 



S39 



cond soft rays much longer, pectoral spine strongly toothed ; adi- 

 pose fin opposite the anal — D. 1-7, A. 14 — maxillary cirri reach some- 

 what beyond the ventrals ; olive brown above ; yellowish beneath ; 

 lower fins tinged red — length about 5 inches. 



I have procured this fish at Madras from the rivers and backwaters, 

 living both in fresh and brackish waters. I do not think that Valencien- 

 nes' fuscus differs specifically from this. It is common in the 

 rivers and backwaters of Malabar. 



Bagrus punctatus. New Species. 



Head one-fourth of body ; height 4i times in the same ; eye 7 

 times in the length of head, and with 4 diameters between the two 

 eyes ; occipital spine ends in a narrow line ; dorsal spine, weak, not 

 toothed ; pectoral spine serrated, of no great strength ; maxillary 

 cirri reach to end of ventrals, other cirri all shorter than head ; adi- 

 pose fin nearly two-thirds of length of 1st dorsal — D. 1-7, A. 12— 

 colours pale olive above, yellowish on the sides, and white beneath ; 

 a row of black spots along the sides ; lower fins yellow. Length up 

 to 18 inches and more. 



This fish, which is considered good eating, is found in the Cavery 

 and its principal tributaries, not descending however to any great 

 distance. 



Bagrus oculatus. C. V. 



Eye one-third of length of head, and with only one diameter be- 

 tween the two, maxillary cirri beyond anal, adipose fin about equal 

 in length to the anal ; green above, whitish beneath, fins edged with 

 black; 3 inches long— D. 1-7, A. 12. 



I have only procured this Bagrus in the river that runs near Pal- 

 ghat in South Malabar. 



Bagrus agricolus. New Species^ 



Head 4 times in length of body ; eye 4 times in head and with two 

 diameters between the two ; dorsal spine short, very finely toothed ; 

 pectoral spine strong with large teeth — D.2-7, A, 1 0 —maxillary cirri 

 reach the ventrals. Length 2 inches ; colour greenish leaden above, 

 whitish beneath. 



I found this small Bagrus in ditches and inundated paddy fields ia 

 the Wynaad. 



VOL. XV. NO. XXXV, U W 



