﻿Bola. GAXGETIC FISHES. 85 



taining eighteen rays, of which the first and last are undivided. 

 The ventral fins are near each other, and the prickle in each is 

 strong. The^« behind the vent is rounded, and its prickles are 

 strong, while the first of its soft rays alone is undivided, and 

 the last is divided to the root into two branches. The tail fin 

 is rounded, and contains sixteen distinct rays, besides some 

 short compacted ones at each side. 



VII. Genus. — Coius. 



Fishes of the fourth order with strong distinct sharp teeth in 

 both jaws, or with teeth disposed in many rows, with some of 

 the bones of the head distinctly indented on the edges, with 

 prickles in some of the fins, and with opaque bodies, the sides 

 of which are nearly vertical, so that a transverse section is ei- 

 ther elliptical, or in form of a lens equally convex on both 

 sides. 



The fishes of this kind also afford food of easy digestion, and 

 in general more sapid than that of the preceding genus. 



Besides the circumstances mentioned in the generic charac- 

 ter, most of the species which I have observed in the Ganges 

 agree in the following particulars ; and every species below de- 

 scribed, where it is not otherwise specified, possesses these cha- 

 racters. 



These fishes are not so long in proportion as the Bolas, and 

 their tails taper as suddenly above as below. Their heads, at 

 least in part, and their gill-covers and bodies, are covered 

 with scales. The vent is behind the middle. 



The Jiead slopes gradually from the commencement of the 

 back fin to the jaws, which are protruded in opening the mouth. 

 This is rather large, and has fleshy lips, the upper of which has 

 a bone on each side. Each nostril has two apertures placed far 

 back. The eyes are high, but at a distance from each other, 



