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Show 1867.] MR. F. DAY ON NEW INDIAN FISHES. 705 I \ diameter from end of snout, 1 \ diameter apart, and | of a diameter from the dorsal profile. Body compressed. Dorsal and abdominal profiles equally convex. Head compressed, and having an elevated central ridge. Praeorbital wide, equal in extent to 1^ diameter of the orbit. Praeopercle-its posterior limb rather oblique; its lower margin lineated towards the edge, which is crenulated. Sub- and interopercles also crenulated. Teeth in numerous villiform rows, of equal size in both jaws, with a slight interval at symphysis. A triangular patch of villiform teeth on the vomer ; and a long narrow band of the same character on the palate. Fins. Pectoral rather in advance of the origin of the dorsal and ventral; anal arises under about the sixth ray of the second dorsal. First dorsal nearly triangular; second dorsal highest anteriorly, its upper margin rather concave in its first portion, subsequently parallel with the back. Pectoral falciform, reaching to opposite the tenth dorsal ray. Dorsal spines weak, the first very short, the third and fourth the longest. First ray of second dorsal the longest in the fin ; the last does not quite reach the base of the caudal. Anal spines weak, the second the longest. Scales cover the body, under the eyes, and the upper portion of the opercles ; there are none on the chest. There is a moderately high sheath to the dorsal and anal fins. Lateral line with a very moderate curve to opposite the thirteenth dorsal ray, whence it becomes straight. The keel is slightly developed- in fact, being only very distinct on the last eight scales. A lateral ridge on either side of the keel on the root of the caudal. Caecal appendages very numerous. Colours. Of a dusky greyish, with innumerable fine black points, and generally glossed with purple. A well-marked black spot upon the operculum. Fins nearly black, especially the dorsal. This description is that of a male specimen. Of the genus Panchax, Cuv. & Val., I have obtained two species at Madras, and one from Malabar. Before describing these, I may remark that I have not as yet met with the Panchax (Esox) panchax, Buch. Ham. The Panchax lineatum, C. & V., is exceedingly common in Malabar ; but I have not taken it as yet on the Madras side of the Western Ghawts. The Panchax (Aplocheilus) rubrostigma, Jerdon, and another species which 1 am unable to refer to any existing description, and have therefore considered new, are both exceedingly common in all tanks, streams, and pieces of fresh water around Madras. These two species are very dissimilar in their appearance; and I have kept a number in an aquarium, where they grow rapidly and become very tame. They are carried in water with great difficulty, and rapidly die when out of their native element. They swim very close to the surface of the water, and appear to require a large amount of oxygen. |