THE FISHES OF MALABAR. 
197 
Macropteronotus magur, Ham. Bach. pp. 146, 374, pi. 26. f. 45. 
Cl arias marpus, Cuv. & Vol. xv. p. 378. 
Clarias magur, Cuv. & Val. xv. p. 381; Giinther , Catal. v. p. 17. 
Clarias punctatus, Cuv. & Val. xv. p. 284; Cantor , Catal. p. 263. 
B. is. D. 64-70. P. i. Y. 6. A. 50-53. C. 17. 
Length of head ^ of the total length. 
Eyes—Situated in the anterior fourth of the head : diameter jy of length of head : the distance 
apart equals \ of the length of head. 
Mouth anterior and of moderate width. Head finely granulated superiorly, and covered with 
a thin skin, its width opposite the gill covers equals two-thirds of its length. In the centre of 
the helmet are two ovoid depressions, the anterior—which is the longest and equals about one-fifth 
of the entire length of the head—is situated so that its lower portion is between the orbits : the upper 
depression is half the size of the lower one, situated in the mesial line of the head, and opposite 
the base of the pectoral fins. The occipital process is not prominent, and is rounded posteriorly. 
The maxillary cirri are thick and fleshy at their bases, rather more than one quarter of the 
entire length of the fish, and extend to opposite the end of the pectoral spine : the nasal cirri 
reach to the base of the occipital process: the outer mandibular ones are one-fifth and the inner 
one-eighth of the entire length of the fish. 
Teeth—Card-like, those in intermaxillaries forming a broad band which extends nearly as 
far as opposite the base of the mtfcdllary cirri: those on vomer and palate form a villiform 
crescentic band in width about equalling those in the intermaxillaries. 
Fins—Dorsal commences at the neck and extends nearly as far as the caudal: it is rather 
highest posteriorly. The pectoral commences under opercle, its spine is strong, three-fourths the 
length of the fin, and finely serrated internally, but the serratures are concealed in the skin. 
Ventral abdominal, commencing rather posterior to the end of the pectoral. Anal arises under 
posterior extremity of first fourth of the dorsal. Caudal rounded. 
Lateral fine—Nearly straight. 
Colours—Olive green above with purplish reflections, the body with lighter spots or blotches, 
(in a specimen captured in Cochin, but since mislaid), and of a dirty yellowish white interiorly. 
Cirri black. 
Is eaten by the Natives. Grows to ten inches in length. 
Habitat—Fresh waters of India and Malaysia. 
* Clarias Dussumieri. 
Clarias Dussumieri, Cuv. & Val. xv. p. 382 ; Jerdon , Madras Journal, xv. p. 342. 
D. 69. A. 50. 
Head smooth. Pectoral spine denticulated. 
Teeth—Those on the vomer like a pavement and placed in an arc-shaped spot. 
Colours—Greenish-black above, fading to greyish white beneath. 
Grows to eight inches in length. 
Habitat—Fresh waters of Malabar. 
