THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 
181 
Genus OSTEOGENIOSUS, Bleeker. 
Branchiostegals, five. Opercular bones with moveable articulations. No lateral groove on head: 
bones on summit of head granulated, and covered with a very thin skin. Mouth anterior, very wide, the 
upper jaw generally the longest. Cirri consisting of one bony maxillary pair. Nostrils approximating, 
the posterior provided with a valve. Teeth in jaws villiform : on palate obtusely conical, in two oblong 
widely separated patches. Two dorsals, the first with a strong serrated spine and seven rays, it is placed 
before the ventrals : second dorsal adipose, small. Pectoral spine strong and serrated. Caudal forked or 
emarginate. Air bladder present. 
OSTEOGENIOSUS MILITARIS. 
Silurus militaris, Linn. Sys. Nat. i. p. 503. 
Arius militaris, Guv. & Val. xv. p. 114, pi. 430 ; Cantor , Catal. p. 259. 
Osteogeniosus militaris, Bleeker , Atl. Icli. iv. p. 46 ; Gunther , Catal. v. p. 181. 
B. v. D.i|0 . P. jo-Vt- V.6. A. 20-23. C. 15. Vert. if. 
Length, of head J, of pectoral of caudal of base of first dorsal of base of second 
dorsal of base of anal \ of total length. Height of head of body more than 1, of first 
dorsal f, of second dorsal yg, of ventral of anal j of total length. 
Eyes—Oval. Horizontal diameter vertical diameter A of length of head, 2 diameters from 
end of snout, 31 diameters apart. \ 
Body broadest opposite the first dorsal. Width of head nearly twice its height, width of 
interorbital space equal to half the length of the head. 
Gape of mouth extends nearly across the end of the head, which is obtuse, and cleft half 
way from the snout to the orbit. Lower jaw slightly the shortest. Central longitudinal groove 
having its widest portion not quite midway between the snout and first dorsal, it rapidly narrows 
superiorly, but much more gradually inferiorly; it is of a lanceolate shape, extending from the 
snout nearly to the base of the occipital process. Occipital process nearly three times as high as 
broad, roughened in longitudinal lines, and extending as far as the basal bone of the first dorsal 
fin. Between the upper end of the central groove of the head and the base of the occipital process, 
there are some very distinct elevated nodules, external to which are roughened lineated 
elevations. Upper surface of orbits covered by a fleshy curtain. Nostrils large, approximating, 
situated near the snout, the anterior round close to the margin of snout, the posterior one oval. 
Maxillary barbel, long, flexible, compressed, and furrowed, becoming fine at its external point, 
and extending slightly beyond the centre of the pectoral fin : from its posterior margin near its 
root, extends a small triangular membrane, which is so short, that the cirrus cannot be extended 
at a right angle to the head. 
Teeth—In the upper jaw in a band one-third as wide as long, not reaching the angle of the 
mouth, but terminating near the root of the bony maxillary cirrus: they are small, placed close 
together, and curved. In the lower jaw they are of the same description, but extend further 
laterally, whilst there are none opposite the symphysis. On the palate they are obtusely conical, 
placed in two large rhomboidal patches, wide apart, but converging posteriorly. 
Fins—First dorsal commences over the posterior extremity of the pectoral spine : ventral 
opposite the posterior end of the dorsal: anal midway between the base of the pectoral and the 
posterior extremity of the centre of the caudal: adipose dorsal opposite the centre of the anal. 
