THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 
175 
Order PHYSOSTOMI. 
Sub-Order SILURIDZE. 
Pam. SILTJROIBEI, Bleeker. 
Sub-Fam. BAGRIFORMES, Bleeker. 
Group BAGRINI, Bleeker. 
Sub-Group ARII, Bleeker. 
Genus NETUMA, Bleeker. 
Arius, pt. Cuv. & Val. 
Branchiostegals, five or six. Opercular bones with moveable articulations. No lateral groove on the 
head : bones on summit of head granulated, roughened, and covered with very thin skin. Mouth anterior: 
the upper jaw generally the longest. Eyes with free orbital margin. Cirri six, one maxillary and two 
mandibular pairs. Nostrils approximating, the posterior provided with a valve. Teeth in jaws villiform ; 
also present (usually villiform) on vomer and palate, disposed in six patches, which may be either distinct 
or confluent: four of these patches form aiCanterior row, two of them being on the vomer, whilst the pos¬ 
terior row is composed of one pair, which are behind the internal portion of the anterior palatine row. 
Two dorsals, the first with one strong serrated spine and seven rays; it is situated above or before the 
ventrals : second dorsal adipose, well developed or moderate. Pectoral spine strong and serrated. Caudal 
forked or emarginate. An air bladder. 
NETUMA NETUMA. 
Arius netuma, Cuv. & Val. xiv. p. 438, pi. 417 ; Day , Proc. Zool. Soc. 1865, p. 292. 
B. vi. D. \ | 0. P. yL. V. 6. A. 19. C. 17. 
Length of head V of pectoral of caudal of base of dorsal of base of adipose dorsal y, of 
base of anal y of the total length. Height of head of body §, of first dorsal of second dorsal ^ y, 
of ventral Aj, of anal ]■ of the total length. 
Byes—Oval, situated in the anterior half of the head: horizontal diameter ys> vertical 
diameter yy in length of head, 2 horizontal diameters from end of snout, 3 horizontal diameters 
apart. 
Gape of mouth wide and semi-elliptical, upper jaw rather the longest: the maxillary pair of 
cirri extend to the root of the pectoral, and the two pairs of mandibular two-thirds the length of 
the maxillary. Opercular bones roughened in lines, shoulder bones in numerous small circular or 
oval depressions : the whole of the upper surface of the head nodulated as far forwards as orbits. 
Occipital process broader at its base than it is long, slightly keeled along its centre: basal 
bone of dorsal spine strong, the central longitudinal groove widest opposite the posterior 
margin of orbit, but does not extend much beyond the posterior margin of preopercle, 
