﻿74 GANGETic FISHES. Order IV. 



ment, but rather insipid ; and, from these qualities, especially 

 when of a similar size, they are usually called whitings by the 

 English of Bengal ; although they have no other affinity to 

 that fish, the Gadiis merlangus of naturalists. 



Besides the circumstances mentioned in the generic charac- 

 ter, the fishes of this genus, which I have observed in the 

 Ganges, agree in the following particulars. 



In proportion to either width or thickness, their form is long, 

 and their tail tapers much, gradually above, but rather sudden- 

 ly below, and is of considerable length. Their backs are arched, 

 and their bellies nearly straight. The body, head, and gill- 

 covers, have large scales, which, on the body at least, are finely 

 indented on the edge, and communicate a rough feel. The 

 vent is behind the middle. 



The head is oval and blunt. The jaws, in opening, are pro- 

 truded, and are covered with fleshy lips, the upper of which is 

 provided on each side with a moderate-sized bone, which wid- 

 ens considerably downward. The tongue is not tied down, and 

 is blunt and smooth. On the palate are some naked bones, and 

 some of them contain teeth. Each of the nostrils has two aper- 

 tures without tubes. The eyes are high, but distant from each 

 othej, and are of a good size. The gill-covers move freely, and 

 leave large apertures ; and a great part, if not the whole, of 

 their memhraiies is visible, each containing seven rays, that are 

 readily distinguishable. 



The lateral lines run parallel to the back, and in their fore 

 parts are high, but behind they pass along the middle of the 

 tail. 



The two fins of the back ai-e united, but the division is very 

 distinctly marked. The foremost consists of slender prickles, 

 rather longer than the membranes by which they are separat- 

 ed, and growing gradually shorter from either, the first, se- 



