OCR Text |
Show 1868.] SURGEON F. D A Y O N INDIAN FISHES. 583 margin of praeorbital bone its longest. Operculum one-third higher than broad. Teeth. Pharyngeal teeth crooked, pointed, in three rows, 5, 3, 2/2, 3, 5. * Fins. Dorsal commences slightly in advance of the ventral, and midway between snout and base of caudal; its first two undivided rays are very short; the fourth is cartilaginous and articulated, in large specimens it becomes osseous, but is never strong. Anal begins midway between the posterior extremity of operculum and the posterior extremity of the caudal fin, which last is deeply lobed. Scales with numerous horizontal striae; there is an exceedingly low row along the base of the dorsal fin, and one hardly higher along the base of the anal. Lateral line curves downwards along the first six or seven scales, when it becomes straight and passes along the middle of the side of the body. Colours. Silvery, with a tinge of yellow, but without any spots or markings. Hab. Kurnool, where it is exceedingly common in both the Hin-dree and Tamboodra rivers. It grows to upwards of a foot in length, and is esteemed good eating by the natives, but, like the rest of its genus, is bony. I have named this species after Dr. A. Gunther, F.R.S., who was good enough to point out that the name that I had originally given to it was preoccupied. BARBUS AMBASSIS, sp. nov. B.iii. D.f. P. 11. V. 9. A. 2/5. C.19. L. 1. 36. Length of specimens to 2^ inches. Length of head T 2 T, of base of dorsal \, of base of anal T 2 T, of caudal | of the total length. Height of the head 7 2 T, of body f, of dorsal yy, of ventral T T, of anal T of the total length. Eyes without any adipose lids ; nearly § of length of head, 1 diameter apart, \ a diameter from end of snout. Opening of mouth oval; upper jaw slightly the longest; no horny covering to the lips, which are thin. Maxilla extending to nearly beneath the anterior margin of the orbit. Suborbital ring of bones covers the cheek. No barbels. Pharyngeal teeth sharp, curved, 5, 3, 2/2, 3, 5. Fins. Dorsal arises slightly anterior to the ventral, midway between snout and the base of the caudal; its third undivided ray is very strong, flattened, and strongly serrated posteriorly, having about fifteen sharp teeth ; superiorly it ends in a soft point. Anal arises midway between the snout and the posterior extremity of the caudal fin, which last is deeply lobed. The pectoral scarcely reaches the ventral, which latter just extends to the anal. Scales small, very deciduous. Six rows between the lateral line and the base of the ventral fin. N o enlarged row along the base of the anal fin. |