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INTRODUCTION. Vll 



small length of their rays. Again, in writing of the pectoral, 

 ventral, and tail fins, the terms long and sJiort are applied to 

 their greater or less extent from their root to their end. In 

 describing all fins, the term rounded implies that their upper 

 edge, along the extremities of the rays, forms a curve project- 

 ing in the middle ; and the term like a crescent, implies that 

 this edge forms a curve receding in the middle. The English 

 term oval implies the botanical Latin term ovatus, and not 

 ovalis. 



For the sake of those men of science to whom the English 

 language is not familiar, I have annexed a Synoptical Table in 

 Latin, following in this the example of Latham, in his excel- 

 lent work on Birds. 



To most of the species that 1 could not trace in authors, I 

 have given trivial names, derived from some of those used by 

 the natives of India, and altered as little as possibly consistent 

 with avoiding that total barbarity into which La Cepede has so 

 often fallen. In this I shall endeavour to imitate the vene- 

 rable RuMPHius, who, from the most barbarous materials, has 

 given many names greatly more polished than the sesquipe- 

 dalic compounds of the modern dealers in Greek. 



In their proper places I have introduced an account of a few 

 fishes observed in the rivers of the south of India ; but to these 

 1 have prefixed no numbers in the Synoptical Table. These 

 have only been annexed to the species found in the Ganges. 



The words printed in capitals or italics are chiefly intended 

 to assist the reader in finding more readily the objects which 

 are described. 



