﻿Murcenophis. gangetic fishes. 19 



brane is large, and very much dilatable. It is striated with 

 several rays ; but their number cannot be exactly ascertain- 

 ed. 



The body is not compressed, but nearly round. It is slip- 

 pery and naked, although numerous depressed lines, crossing 

 each other, form it into little squares like scales. The lateral 

 line runs straight down the middle of the side. The tail ta- 

 pers to a point, is compressed, and has a sharp edge above and 

 below. 



The Jiti is broad, extends from the gill openings round the 

 tail to the vent, and is so thick that the number of slender 

 rays which it contains cannot be ascertained. 



III. Genus. — Ophisurus. 



Fishes of the second order, with indistinct pectoral, dorsal, 

 and vent fins, but having no fin on the tail, and those on the 

 back and behind the vent are very long and narrow, with a 

 body formed like a serpent, and with an opening to the gills on 

 each side of the neck. 



The three species of this genus, which I have found in the 

 Ganges, for eels are rather beautiful animals, and are eaten by 

 many of the natives, most of whom reject the others, although 

 all are used very indiscriminately by Europeans. 



These three eels in form are very slender, and nearly cylin- 

 drical in the body, but taper to a point at both tail and head, 

 this member terminating in a sharp snout, which projects con- 

 siderably beyond the under jaw. Their nostrils are solitary tubes 

 near the end of the snout. The eyes are small and far forward. 

 The teeth in both jaws are small. The openings of the gills are 

 small and close to the pectoral fins. No rays can be distinctly 

 traced in the membrane covering the gills, which is thick. The 



gill-covers are flexible, and covered with skin. There are no 



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