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Show 1869.] MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES OF ORISSA. 297 extracted from at least 2 feet below the surface of the mud, two specimens of the Ophiocephalus punctatus, Bloch, and three of the Rhynchobdella aculeata, Willughby. All of these fish were very lively, and not in the slightest degree torpid. They were covered over with a thickish adherent slime; and on dissecting them at a subsequent date, none contained ova. The natives stated that if I returned in about a month, by which time they expected the ground would be hard and caked, they were confident that we should still find fish below the surface. I. LATES CALCARIFER, Bloch. Bekkut (Ooriah). This marine Perch ascends the rivers far beyond the influence of the tides, following those species which migrate to the fresh waters for the purpose of depositing their ova. In the Mahanuddi it is frequently taken at Benki, about 76 miles from the sea. 2. MESOPRION CHIRTAH, CUV. & Val. Soosta (Ooriah). B.viii. D.g. P. 19. V.|, A.|. C. 17. L. 1. 54. L. tr.g. Caec. pyl. 6. The form I obtained was the young M. annularis, C. & V., at Chanderpore, near the mouth of the Balasore river, where I examined the stake-nets on three different days during the spring tides, and obtained several species of fish and two sorts of sea-snakes, one of the latter of which bit m y left heel whilst wading in the sea amongst the fishing-nets. I procured specimens, and I find it to be the Enhydrina bengaliensis, Gray. As the fangs drew blood, I am inclined to think that perhaps the reptile had discharged his venom on some fish previously to trying his teeth on m y heel. I may mention that I found alive on the shore at the same place a very fine specimen of that handsome Sea-snake the Pelamis bicolor, Schneider. 3. MESOPRION SILLAOO, CUV. & Val. Purruwa (Ooriah). B.vii. D.g. P. 17. V.J, A.J. C. 17. L.l. 50. L.tr.J. Some fine specimens of this fish were taken in the sea at Chanderpore; I likewise saw many which had been dried in the sun. 4. AMBASSIS ALTA, CUV. & Val. Chandee (Ooriah). B. vi. D. 7|-jg3L. P. 11. V.-g. A. fjjg. C. 17. L. 1.58. Several spines about the head ; six directed backwards on the preorbital ; one moderately strong one is placed on the centre of the anterior margin of the orbit, and five more along its lower edge. On the centre of the posterior margin of the orbit is a similar spine, with |
