194 
THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 
Wall ago Malabaricus. 
Silurus Malabaricus, Cuv.& Val. xiv. p. 353; Jerdon , Madras Journal, xv. p. 334; 
Gunther , Catal. v. p. 34. 
Mungee wahlah, Mai. 
B. xv. D. 4. P. W- V. 9. A. 68. C. 17. 
Length of head of base of dorsal about t 25 ’ of pectoral of base of anal §, of caudal 
of total length. Height of head °f body ], of dorsal of ventral of anal W, of base 
of caudal 2 b- of total length. 
Eyes—Diameter 4 of length of head, 1^ diameters apart, nearly 1 diameter from end of snout. 
Gape of mouth very wide, being three times its antero-posterior length. Muzzle rounded in 
front. Lower jaw the longest, curving upwards in the centre, so that when closed its extremity is 
completely in advance of the upper jaw, and even higher. The cleft of the mouth only extends half 
the distance to the eye, where it ascends to opposite the centre of the orbit. The maxillary cirri 
are situated opposite its angle, and reach to the end of the pectoral fin : the mandibular pah’ are 
short and only equal to a third the length of the head. Head fleshy. 
Teeth—Sharp, carded, and recurved, in six or eight rows on the intermaxillary bone and the 
lower jaw, and also in two oblique oval spots on the vomer, separated by an interspace : none on 
palate. 
Fins—Dorsal arises above the commencement of the ventral: the pectoral reaches just beyond 
the origin of the anal, which is divided from the caudal by a notch, and for two-thirds of its 
distance from the abdomen is covered by a fleshy sort of sheath. Dorsal fin weak and expanded 
in the centre. Pectoral spine serrated on its inferior aspect. Caudal lobed, the superior the 
longest. 
Lateral line—Passes direct from the upper margin of the opercle to the centre of the caudal. 
Colours—Greenish along the back, and white with a purplish tinge along the sides, abdomen 
and chest. The whole of the body minutely studded with fine black dots. A large round dark 
finger mark on the shoulder, opposite the centre of the opercle. 
This fish is found in the same localities as the Wallago attu , but is said never to exceed two 
feet in length. It is equally good for salting and eating. 
Habitat—Eivers of Malabar. 
Fam. CHACOIDEX, Bleeker. 
Sub-Fam. PLOTOSIFORHES, Bleeker. 
Genus PLOTOSUS, Lacep. 
Branchiostegals from nine to twelve. Head conical, depressed. Opercular hones with immoveable 
articulations. Eyes small, with free fids. Mouth transverse. Cirri eight, one pair to posterior nasal 
orifices, which are some distance apart from the anterior, which are on the margin of the snout or perforating 
the upper lip: one maxillary and two mandibular pairs. Teeth in jaws, unequal in size, in several 
rows, those on the vomer obtuse and in a semilunar patch. Two dorsals, the first short and having a sharp 
