OCR Text |
Show 348 MR. F. DAY ON NEW INDIAN FISHES. [Mar. 28, Dorsal profile more convex than that of the abdomen, which latter is nearly horizontal. Body laterally compressed posterior to the dorsal fin. Back moderately broad, and in the mesial line near the caudal fin slightly elevated. Mouth almost below, surrounded by fleshy lips. Two pairs of cirri on the snout, the external reaching the posterior, and the internal the anterior margins of the orbit; they are not united at their bases. The maxillary cirri extend to beneath the anterior margin of the orbit. There is no spine on the head. Nostrils generic. Fins. Dorsal arises slightly in advance of the ventral, and its base is situated midway between the snout and the posterior extremity of the caudal fin ; whilst the anal is in the posterior fourth of the body. The caudal, which has a broad base, is slightly lobed at its posterior extremity. Scales well developed over the whole of the body, not on the head. Lateral line passes direct from the centre of the orbit to the middle of the caudal fin. Colours. Reddish brown, with very narrow light-reddish vertical bands, most distinct in the posterior part of the body, where there are sixteen posterior to the commencement of the dorsal fin, and several more between that and the head, which last is marked all over with black lines and spots on a light reddish base. A very black bar exists at the base of the caudal fin. Dorsal fin with a light margin, bounded below by a jet-black band, and having a dark base, between which two marks it is brilliant orange. Anal orange, with some dull black spots. Caudal yellow, with some dull marks. Grows to 2| inches in length. Hab. Wynaad, at 3000 feet elevation. HOMALOPTERA BRUCEI. Balitora brucei, Gray, 111. I. Z. pl. 41. f. 1 ; Cuv. et Val. xviii. p. 101. Platycara brucei, McClelland, J. A. S. xix. pp. 299, 428. Platycara australis, Jerdon, Mad. J. L. & S. no. 35, p. 333. Cut candee (Tam.). The Stone Carp. B. iii. D. 3/8. P. 19. V. 9. A. 2/4. C. 17. L. 1. 70. Length of head -1, of pectoral \, of base of dorsal \, of base of anal f^, of caudal \ of the total length. Height of head y^, of body 4-, of dorsal \, of ventral \ of the total length. Eyes directed upwards aud outwards. Diameter \ of length of head, 2 diameters apart, nearly 3 diameters from end of snout. Head posteriorly wide, and becoming rather pointed towards the snout; anteriorly it is so much depressed that the dorsal profile is slightly convex, whilst that of the abdomen is horizontal. Mouth small, transverse, and on the abdominal aspect of the fish, posterior to the snout; cleft very short, the upper jaw in advance of the lower. Lips fleshy. Two pairs of short cirri are situated on the anterior inferior aspect of the snout, their length being equal to two-thirds of the diameter of the orbit. There is also a pair of cirri |