OCR Text |
Show 1869.] MR. F. DAY ON THE FISHES OF ORISSA. 309 jaw the longest, the angle of the mouth is situated about midway between the snout and the anterior margin of the orbit. Maxillary cirrus osseous in its basal half; it extends nearly to the base of the pectoral fin. The four mandibular cirri arise in a transverse line just behind the margin of the lower jaw; they only extend to opposite the middle of the orbit. The occipital process is one-third as wide at its base as it is long; it extends to the basal bone of the first dorsal fin. The superior longitudinal groove is wide, but rather shallow, becoming indistinct. For a short distance opposite the posterior margin of the orbit, its upper portion extends nearly to the base of the occipital process, which, as observed by Buchanan, may be regarded as a point from which seven bony ridges arise. The upper surface of the head granulated. Nostrils large and placed close together ; no well-developed valve to the posterior one. Teeth. Five in both jaws, none on the palate. Fins. Dorsal spine strong, anteriorly rugose. Pectoral spine somewhat stronger and of the same length as the dorsal; it is serrated internally, rough externally. The ventrals arise posterior to the vertical from the last dorsal rays. Caudal deeply forked. Lateral line ceases at the base of the caudal fin. Colours. Yellowish bronze, becoming silvery on the abdomen ; three dark bands over the head, and four more over the back, descending as low as the lateral line. A black edging to the caudal, and a black blotch on each lobe. A dark mark across the dorsal fin. It grows to about 3 inches in length, and is abundant in the Cos-sye river at Midnapore. 72. BAGARIUS YARRELLII, Sykes. Sahlun, Cart cuntea (Ooriah). Hab. Rivers of Orissa. 73. GAGATA TYPUS, Bleeker. Callomystax gagata, Gunther. This species was Dr. Bleeker's type of the genus Gagata, of which Dr. Gunther remarks, "Dr. v. Bleeker does not appear to have been acquainted with this fish ; so that not only the characters of the genus which he proposed for it are incorrect, but it is also improperly referred to the * phalanx ' of Arii, and to the ' stirps' of Bagrini." He therefore renamed the genus, taking the same species as his type ! The air-bladder is divided into two portions, and enclosed in a bony capsule formed from the bodies of the anterior vertebrae. It grows to 1 foot in length, and is common in the rivers of Orissa. 74. BELONE CANCILA, IT. Buch. Gungituri (Ooriah). Hab. Common in rivers and tanks. PROC. ZOOL. S O C - 1 8 U 9 , NO. XXI. |