298 MISCELLANEOUS. On Pristolepis marginatus, Jerd. To the Editors of the Annals and Magazine of Natural History. Gentlemen, — Some time since, Dr. Gunther founded the genus Catopra on a freshwater fish from Siam ; and he has recently added another species to the genus, from the west coast of India, under the name of Catopra malabariea. In 1849 or 1850 I described that very genus under the name of Pristolepis, founding it on the identical species lately described by him from the Malabar coast, which I named Pristolepis marginatus. It is very possible that Dr. Giinther may not have seen my paper on the freshwater fishes of Southern India, published in the ' Madras Journal of Literature and Science'; but it is quite as likely that he has seen and ignored it ; and I therefore beg to call his attention to it, as well as that of other naturalists who may not be disposed to treat so slightingly the labours of fellow-workers in natural science, writing under every disadvantage in a foreign land. It is very pos-sible that the generic name bestowed by me may have been pre-viously applied, in which case Dr. Giinther's name will stand. This fish, I may remark, is found in rapid rivers in Malabar, and also in the elevated region of the Toynaad, the waters of which flow into the Cauvery, on the eastern coast of India. It frequents chiefly rapids ; and I have taken it with bait. I have not seen it longer than 9 or 10 inches. Some two or three years ago Dr. Giinther contributed a short paper to the Zoological Society, remarking on the extension of several marine genera of fishes to Nepal, apparently on the strength of cer-tain specimens in Mr. Hodgson's collection. I have not the paper now by me to refer to ; but among others were Therapon and, I think, Scatophagus. I need hardly say that the extension of any of those marine and estuary fishes to Nepal is perfectly mythical ; and I am sure that Mr. Hodgson himself would not countenance the idea for one moment. He probably purchased the fishes at Calcutta. I intended at the time I saw this paper to have sent you a note on the subject, and indeed wrote out a short paper; but it was delayed through some cause or other. I am. Gentlemen, yours obediently, Srinuggur, Cashmere, T. C. Jerdon, Aug. 7, 1865. Surgeon-Major. [In answer to the above statements, we have received the following from Dr. Giinther. — Ed. Ann. Nat. Hist.] 1 . It is scarcely necessary to say that Mr. Jerdon is in error in believing that the genus Catopra was founded by me ; it was esta-blished by Dr. Bleeker in 1 85 1 . 2. Mr. Jerdon's paper on Indian Fishes is known to me ; the description of Pristolepis, however, bears so much the stamp of being written " under every disadvantage in a foreign land," that neither I myself nor Dr. Bleeker were able to recognize Catopra in it.
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