OCR Text |
Show 1867.] MR. F. DAY ON INDIAN FISHES. 299 Profile more convex on the ventral than on the dorsal aspect, which last is nearly straight. Cleft of mouth extending to under the anterior margin of the orbit; upper jaw broad ; the lower jaw with a well-marked knob at its anterior extremity, and which is received into a rather deep emargination in the centre of the upper jaw, where, when the mouth is closed, it forms part of the upper profile. Upper surface of head nearly flat. Nostrils generic. Prseorbital irregularly pentagonal, pointing downwards and backwards, its posterior margin the longest, its posterior inferior margin the shortest. Fins. Dorsal commences midway between the snout and the centre of the caudal fin, and over the middle of the ventral, extending backwards to over its posterior extremity. Caudal broad and deeply lunated in its posterior half. First divided rays of dorsal and anal the highest. Scales moderately large, some on base of both anal and caudal fins. Lateral line consists of single tubes; it makes a rather concave curve downwards from the posterior superior angle of the opercle to opposite the end of the pectoral fin, whence it passes parallel with the abdomen to the lower third of the caudal fin. Teeth. Pharyngeal teeth sharp, curved, 5, 3, 2/2, 3, 5. Colours. Olive-green superiorly, becoming lighter on the abdomen, with a purplish gloss. A leaden-blue stripe passes from the eye to the centre of the caudal fin; it has a dull yellow edging above. Fins orange. Said never to exceed four inches in length. It is common in the Bowany River. This species of Rasbora differs materially from the R. neilgher-riensis in its comparatively longer head, its larger eye, its mouth, its preeorbital, its lateral line, and the shape of the caudal fin. Fishes of this genus are avoided as food by the natives of some portions of the Madras Presidency whilst cholera is present, as they are considered to predispose the eater to attacks of this scourge. Genus ESOMUS. I have in this place introduced a fish of this genus, of which I have been favoured with many specimens captured by Mr. Assistant Apothecary Everard at Trichoor, near Cochin. It is exceedingly interesting, because Valenciennes's specimen was obtained from a hot spring iit Ceylon, and Dr. McClelland's from a hot spring in Bengal. Although not captured near the Neilgherries, I shall describe it in this place with reference to the next species. ESOMUS MALABARICUS, sp. nov. B.iii. D.2/7. P. 12. V. 9. A. 2/5. C.19. L. 1. 32. L. tr. 7. Length of specimens up to 3 inches. Length of head fa, of pectoral f, of base of dorsal fa, of base of anal fa, of caudal f of the total length. Height of head £, of body I, of dorsal }, of anal £ of the total length, |