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Show 292 MR. F. DAY ON INDIAN FISHES. [Mai*. 14, PUNTIUS (BARBODES) CARNATICUS. ?Barbus carnaticus, Jerdon, Madras Journ. No. 35. p. 311. Poaree candee, or Saal candee, T a m. B. iii. D. 4/8. P. 15. V. 9. A. ?=?. C. 19. L.l. 32. L. tr. 6/Length of specimens up to 22^ inches. Length of head T 2 r, of pectoral fa, of base of dorsal *|, of base of anal fa, of caudal -l- of the total length. Height of head nearly \, of body rather more than A, of dorsal \, of anal ^ of the total length. Eyes. Transverse diameter \ of length of head, 2\ transverse diameters apart, 1 \ from end of snout. Dorsal profile rather more convex than that of the abdomen. Cleft of mouth extending nearly to beneath the anterior margin of the orbit. Nostrils generic. Praeorbital irregularly pentagonal, the anterior margin the longest, the anterior superior the shortest. In adults the summit of the head very rugose, and a slight depression extends across the snout just anterior to the nostrils. Nasal pair of cirri thin, reaching as far as anterior margin of the orbit; maxillary thicker, but slightly shorter. Fins. The dorsal, nearly square, commences midway between snout and base of the caudal, and is situated in the posterior half of the body; first entire dorsal ray minute, the second longer, the third only two-fifths of the length of the fourth, which last is broad, nearly as long as the first soft ray, strong, entire, and has a short soft articulated termination; the last soft ray is divided at its root. Caudal deeply forked, lobes pointed. Scales very large, nearly quadrangular, and in the adults haying very roughened margins ; some scales exist over the bases of the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins. Lateral line first curves gently downwards for five scales, and then proceeds direct to centre of caudal fin. Teeth. Pharyngeal teeth pointed and slighted crooked at their extremities, 5, 3, 2/2, 3, 5. Colours. Brownish green along the back, silvery white on the abdomen; cheeks glossed with gold; dorsal fin dark grey; pectorals, ventrals, and anal whitish, with a dash of pink; caudal greyish ; eyes golden. Hab. Bowany and Seegoor Rivers. This is the only large species of Puntius existing as an indigenous species at so high an elevation as 2900 feet; the small Puntius grayi, spec, nov., was also found at about the same height above the sea. At Billicul, about 5700 feet elevation, I found it existing; it had been introduced there some years previously; and the first fish I obtained was taken on a night-line, and nearly 4 | lb. weight. In the Bowany it has been taken 25 lb. weight. Their conveyance alive during the hot months is difficult, but during the cold weather exceedingly easy. Upwards of two dozen were placed in the Ootacamund Lake, where, however, more are necessary ; and no doubt they would succeed in the Pykara Biver. |