546 On the Fresh Water Fishes of S. Lidta. [No. 35, 



Gen. Anguilla. L. 



Dorsal, anal and caudal fins united into one; pectorals oval ; spi- 

 racles placed just beneath the base of the pectoral. 



A.hicolor. McLelland? 

 Chemloo pamoo, Russell, pi. 31. 



I have not a specimen of the common eel of the south of India by 

 me at present, to compare with McLelland's description of his fish 

 which was from Arracan. He suggests that it may be the same as 

 Russell's species, but I should think this very doubtful. Our eel is 

 not a Tery common, nor abundant fish, being found chiefly in large 

 tanks, and deep holes in the larger rivers. It is of a dark olive co- 

 lour above, yellowish beneath, length up to 4 feet. It is very good 

 eating. It is taken in nets, or by a night line. 



I add McLelland's description of his Malay fish, so that any one who 

 has the opportunity may compare our fish with it. " The dorsal oc- 

 cupies rather more than half the entire length, and commences exact- 

 ly over the anus. The jaws are depressed, the upper rather shorter, 

 and narrower than the lower jaw. The breadth of the head about 

 equal to that of the body. The distance from the base of the pecto- 

 rals to the end of the nose, equal to one-third of the interval from the 

 nose to the commencement of the caudal. The teeth are fine, like 

 the pile of velvet, consisting of a broad band on either side of the 

 jaws, and another on the lower. The fin rays are, 



P. 18, D. 245, A. 221. 



The colour above is dark olive green or brown, and white below. 

 One of the specimens examined was about 2 feet in length. 



* Anguilla Elphinstonei. Sykes. 



" An anguilla^ with the lower jaw the longest ; with the back, tail 

 and anal fins united, and with a broadish, flat head ; body dark green, 

 blotched with black ; with 2 short tubular processes, one on each 

 side of the upper jaw. Attains the length of 3 feet, and diameter of 

 3 inches." 



This description is insufficient to distinguish it very exactly from 

 other allied species. 



