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Show 1873.] SURGEON F. DAY ON NEW INDIAN FISHES. 705 ClRRHITICHTHVS BLEEKERI, Sp. nOV. Shun-gun, Tarn. D. g. P. 8 +vui. V.-i. A. |. L. 1.45-46. L. tr. i. Length of head about |, of caudal T 2 r, height of body ± of the total length. Eyes, diameter \ of length of head, £ of a diameter from the end of snout and apart. Snout pointed, whilst the length of the maxillary bone equals 14; diameter of the orbit. Preopercle very coarsely denticulated. Tee if a transverse patch on the vomer, and in a narrow band on the palatines. The largest tooth in the lower jaw is a posterior recurved canine ; whilst the external row is the largest in the maxilla. Fins : the sixth dorsal spine is the longest; first dorsal ray elongated: the longest of the seven free rays of the pectoral fin is the second, which reaches to above the anal spines ; the second of these last is the longest and strongest; the ventral fin reaches the vent; caudal emarginate. Colours rosy, with a large ill-defined blotch below the soft dorsal, extending half the way down the side; a small black dot behind the upper edge of the preopercle; dorsal, caudal, and anal fins all more or less banded ; soft dorsal darker than its spinous portion. Hab. Madras, where I obtained two specimens, and a third exists in the Museum. All are about 4 inches in length. This species appears to be very similar to Cirrhites punctatus, Cuv. & Val., which species, however, has no palatine teeth. In volume iii. of the ' Histoire Naturelle des Poissons,' p. 67, it is observed of the genus Cirrhites, " Leur vomer porte des dents en velours, mais il n'y en a point a leurs palatins," whilst Cirrhites punctatus forms the second species of the genus (p. 70). As I have some observations to make upon the mode of hatching the ova in the genera Arius and Osteogeniosus, it will be necessary to mention that the Macron es yulio, Ham. Buch., was in full breeding condition in April. At this period fishes of the two former genera were also breeding ; but although they apparently selected much the same localities, the process differed very considerably. The M.gulio breeds within tidal influence ; but its eggs are small, and laid in large numbers at one time, as in the other species of the same genus which breed in the fresh waters. On m y arrival at Mangalore, Mr. Thomas showed me some eggs of siluroid fishes, averaging about | an inch in diameter, and informed me that they had been obtained out of the mouths of living ones. Wishing to ascertain how long incubation, if I may use the term, lasted, he placed some of the adults in a suitable place by the edge of the estuary. Unfortunately some natives became aware of the experiment and carried off the fish. When fishing at Cassegode, upwards of a hundred specimens of various species oi Arius and of Osteogeniosus militaris were captured. Amongst the specimens were siluroid eggs in the bottom of the boats and in the fish-baskets; these averaged \ an inch in PROC. ZOOL. Soc-1873, No. XLV. 45 |
