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Show 1867.] MR. F. DAY ON INDIAN FISHES. 301 CHELA ARGENTEA, sp. nov. TVellachee candee, Tam. The White Carp. B.iii. D. 3/7. P.15. V. 8. A. 3/14. C.19. L. 1.40-45. L. tr. 7/2. Length of specimens to 5 | inches. Length of head nearly i of pectoral a little above £, of base of dorsal -fa, of base of anal above \, of caudal a little more than 1 of the total length. Height of head fa, of body above i of dorsal fin nearly ^, of anal nearly -A of the total length. Eyes. Orbits circular, their upper margin close to the profile. Diameter not quite ^ of length of head, 1 diameter apart posteriorly, | anteriorly, and the same distance from the end of the snout. Profile rises to over the centre of the pectoral fin, whence it proceeds direct to the base of the caudal. Its abdominal profile is more convex than its dorsal. Abdomen sharp, cutting anteriorly; body and head compressed laterally. Cleft of mouth extending to beneath the anterior third of the orbit; the lower jaw is directed obliquely upwards, so that its anterior extremity is nearly level with the dorsal profile. The lower jaw has a knob at its symphysis, which is received into an emargination formed by the intermaxillary bones. Nostrils generic. Preeorbital nearly oval, its superior and inferior margins being twice the length of its anterior and posterior ones. Fins. Dorsal situated in the posterior third of the distance between the snout and the base of the caudal fin, and over the commencement of the anal. Pectoral commencing under the posterior extremity of the opercle, extends to rather beyond the base of the ventral, which does not quite reach so far as the anal. Dorsal and anal both highest anteriorly, with their external margins slightly concave, their first undivided rays minute. Pectoral and ventral pointed, the outer ray of the first strong and undivided. Caudal deeply lobed. Scales moderately large, and with six or eight well-marked lines radiating from their bases towards their circumferences. A few scales exist along the anterior portion of the base of the anal and caudal fins. Lateral line consisting of a single tube in each scale; commencing on a level with the upper margin of the opercle, it bends downwards for about twelve scales, when it reaches above the base of the ventral fin, from here it follows the curve of the abdomen to opposite the lower third of the base of the caudal, when it suddenly ascends to attain its centre. Teeth. Pharyngeal teeth curved, pointed at their extremities, and in three rows, 5, 3, 2/2, 3, 5. Colours. Brilliant silvery, with a brownish-green back, divided from the abdomen by a broad green band, which extends from behind the upper part of the orbit to the centre of the caudal fin. Fins yellowish; external portions of dorsal and caudal stained with dark, due to numerous minute black spots. Outer margin of anal also darkish. |
