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Show 1871.] ON THE FRESHWATER SILUROIDS OF INDIA. 703 Gurney, jun., F.Z.S. Professor Newton remarked that though the present specimen was certainly adult, it did not bear out the observation of Professor Alphonse Milne-Edwards (Annales des Sc. Nat. Zool. ser. 5, vol. viii. p. 285) as to the larger size of the Pelican of the English Fens when compared with extant species, and exhibited in proof of this remark a humerus of a Pelican sent from Kustendji by Dr. Cullen, and believed to belong to Pelecanus crispus, as well as the humerus of the Fen-Pelican which had been shown to the Society on a former occasion (P. Z. S. 1868, p. 2), and which had been the subject of Professor Milne-Edwards's description. The following papers were read :- 1. On the Freshwater Siluroids of India and Burmah. By Surgeon F R A N C I S D A Y , F.Z.S. & F.L.S., Inspector- General of Fisheries of British India. [Eeceived November 6, 1871.] Having during the last few months been engaged in inspecting the fisheries of the Ganges, Jumna, and some of the tributaries of the Indus, I have drawn up the following sketch of the family Siluridee as existing there, as well as of its ramifications towards the Malay archipelago. I have also received specimens of Olyra and Akysis collected by Mr. Kurtz from the hilly regions of Pegu, as well as two small but very interesting collections from Mr. Mundali from below Darjeeling, and a new form of Hara from a stream between Purneah and the Garrow hills. I propose first to make remarks on species with reference to undescribed ones, corrections of identification, and the character of the air-vessel, with observations on the range of the genus ; secondly, on their classification ; and lastly, on their geographical distribution, AKYSIS KURZII, sp. nov. D.-||0. P.f V. 6. A. 11. C. 17. Length of head nearly £, of caudal f, height of body £, of dorsal fin I of the total length. Eyes subcutaneous, situated at the commencement of the anterior two fifths of the head. Lower jaw somewhat the longest, mouth terminal; nostrils some distance apart, with a barbel between them belonging to the posterior one. Barbels eight, slightly dilated at their bases, the maxillary extending to beyond the end of the pectoral fin, the external mandibular to opposite its middle, whilst the internal is as long as the head, as is also the nasal. Gill-openings wide, not confluent with the skin of the isthmus, and extending to opposite the middle of the opercle. Free portion of tail longer than high. Teeth in a wide villiform band, none on the palate. Fins. Dorsal situated entirely in advance of the ventrals, spine PROC. ZOOL. Soc-1871, No. XLV. |