OCR Text |
Show 1867.] MR. F. DAY ON INDIAN FISHES. 287 spine exists opposite the anterior inferior extremity of the orbit ; it is present in both males and females. Fins. Not scaled at their bases. The dorsal arises slightly anterior to the origin of the ventral, the anterior extremity of its base being nearly the same distance from the snout as its posterior extremity is from the posterior extremity of the caudal fin. Pectoral rather large and pointed. Ventrals subhorizontal, reaching as far as the anus, which is a short distance anterior to the origin of the anal fin; this last is short. Caudal lobed in its last half. Scales apparent over the whole of the body, but not very distinct; none on the head. Lateral line passes direct from opposite the eye to the centre of the caudal fin. Colours. Light brown, with numerous irregular-shaped spots and bars proceeding from the back towards the lateral line; head brownish, with a dark line from the snout through the orbit; dorsal fin with about three rows of dark spots; caudal irregularly barred; a dark line runs down the centre of the back. Hab. Bowany and Seegoor Rivers, as well as the Billicul Lake. A few were placed in the ponds in the Government Gardens at Ootacamund. NEMACHEILUS DENISONI, nov. sp. B. iii. D. 2/7. P. IL V. 8. A. 2/4. C. 19. Length of head |-, of pectoral ^, of caudal -| of the total length. Height of head ^fa, of body ^ of the total length. Back broader and more flattened than in the last two species. The two pairs of cirri on the snout, as well as the maxillary pair, are all short. Dorsal fin commences slightly in advance of the ventral, and is situated in the centre of the total length. Colours. Of a rich light reddish-brown colour, having twelve yellowish-olive bars passing across the back, and continued vertically down either side of the body to the abdomen ; before the dorsal fin they irregularly coalesce across the back ; summit of head dotted and marbled with black points ; dorsal fin with three rows of fine black dots ; caudal irregularly dotted in bands ; some dull spots on anal and ventral fins ; pectoral with a darkish external edge. Hab. Bowany River. I have named this species after Sir William Denison, K.C.B., under whose auspices the Indian fish-experiment was commenced; and during whose governorship, had he continued in Madras, it would most assuredly have been successfully completed. Whilst engaged upon this experiment I communicated with Mr. Assistant Apothecary Everard, stationed at Trichoor, m y wish to obtain some more specimens of m y Platacanthus agrensis (P. Z. S. 1865, p. 296), and he was good enough to forward me twelve. Being taken during the breeding-season, their colours were much more vivid than in the specimen which I described. I found two distinct sorts, the markings of both being identical ; but in the one the pectoral |