| OCR Text |
Show 1867.] MR. F. DAY ON INDIAN FISHES. 293 PUNTIUS (BARBODES) GRAYI, sp. nov. B.iii. D. 3/6. P.15. V. 8. A. 2/5. C 15. L. 1. 20. L. tr. 4/2. Length of specimens up to 2| inches. Length of head f, of pectoral i-, of base of dorsal \, of base of anal fa, of caudal | of the total length. Height of head \, of bcdy i of dorsal f, of anal i- of the total length. Eyes. Diameter A of length of head, nearly 1 diameter apart, f of a diameter from end of snout. Profile of dorsal aspect considerably more convex than that of the abdomen, there being a very considerable rise from the snout to the anterior extremity of the dorsal fin, whilst from its posterior end there is a rapid fall. Cleft of mouth extends to under the anterior margin of the orbit. Nasal cirri short; the maxillary pair slender and equal in length to the diameter of the orbit. Preeorbital longer than high, irregularly pentagonal and directed forwards. Fins. Dorsal commences midway between the snout and the base of the caudal fin ; the anal midway between the posterior extremity of the orbit and the end of the caudal, which last fin is deeply emarginate in its posterior two-thirds. Unbranched dorsal rays thin and articulated. Scales large; some extended over the bases of the dorsal, anal, and caudal fins. Lateral line in single tubes ; it passes nearly direct from the posterior superior margin of the opercle to the centre of the caudal fin. Pharyngeal teeth in three rows, curved, sharp, 5, 3, 2/2, 3, 5. Colours. Olive-green superiorly, with a dash of crimson, and becoming of a dirty reddish white on the abdomen. A broad black band commences from under the whole extent of the base of the dorsal fin, and passes downwards to just below the lateral line; a second band begins four scales beyond the posterior extremity of the base of the dorsal, and passes down to one scale below the lateral line; there is also a slight blackish band, often indistinct, at the base of the caudal fin. Dorsal, caudal, and anal pinkish; the posterior extremity of the first black, whilst the anal is also margined with black having an external white edge. In some specimens taken from a high level (about 3000 feet) in a rapid stream the groundcolour was of a brilliant crimson; in a few young specimens the caudal had the outer third of its caudal crimson edged with black. Hab. The Bowany and Kullaar Rivers, at the foot of the Neilgherries, and other streams on the lower slopes up to 3000 feet elevation. I have named this pretty little Carp after Dr. J. E. Gray, F.R.S. PUNTIUS FILAMENTOSUS, CUV. & Val. Sawaal candee, Tam. The Red-tailed Carp. B.iii. D. 3/8. P. 17. V. 9. A. 2/5. C. 15. L.l. 20. L. tr. 5/4. Common in the Bowany. This species of Puntius is easily conveyed alive from place to place; six specimens were placed alive in the Ootacamund Lake. |
