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Show 1870.] SURGEON F. DAY ON INDIAN FISHES. 369 But it seems probable that other points of structure, not yet known, may correspond with this character, which will enable us to find out the natural affinities of these snakes. In the highest degree remarkable is it at all events that C. gracilis does not possess this poison-gland, as it resembles C. intestinalis in such a manner that only after exact examination the differences of colour and marking are visible. Can we here have to do with a case of mimicry 1 as it might be of advantage for C. gracilis to mimic C. intestinalis, more formidable in consequence of the poison-apparatus. I may remark that G. intestinalis has a wide area of distribution, whereas C. gracilis has only been found at Pinang and Singapore; and we know, from the researches of Messrs. Bates and Wallace, that all mimicked species are widely spread and plentiful, while the mimicking species are rare and confined to a restricted region. Perhaps, too, the great resemblance between Megeerophis flaviceps and Callophis bivirgatus (var. tetrateenia) is another example of mimicry, the latter haviug this formidable poison-apparatus, and M. flaviceps not, and the latter being rare, the former very plentiful. But only further observations can determine whether this explanation is a right one or not. That C. japonicus, Gthr., possesses the large poison-gland is not probable, as it approaches in its characters to Hemibungarus, which does not possess it. 3. Notes on some Fishes from the Western Coast of India. B y Surgeon F R A N C I S D A Y , F.Z.S., F.L.S., Madras Army. Having received leave last February to proceed from Madras to Europe, I availed myself of the opportunity of crossing that Presidency by rail to Beypore on its western or Malabar coast. Passing on to Calicut, I obtained a few fishes there, when, finding it would be a week before the steamer could arrive, I paid a flying visit to Vithry in the Wynaad range of hills, as there were several questions respecting the fishes of that mountain-range which I was desirous of solving. With respect to some of these I believe I have been successful; a few, however, must still remain for further inquiry and future investigators. Arriving off Mangalore I received a small but very interesting collection of the fishes of South Canara, from H. E. Thomas, Esq., C.S., the collector of the district, who has paid great attention to the finny inhabitants of his range. In the following remarks it is not m y intention to refer to all the species I obtained, but merely to those apparently new, or respecting which I have a few remarks to record. Family PERCID^E. A M B A S S I S T H O M A S S I , sp. nov. B.vi. D. 7 |n- p-15- V*V5* A. 3/10. C. 15. L.1.38. L. tr. 6/13. Length of head f, of caudal \, height of body \ of total length. |