﻿96 GANGETic FISHES. Order IV. 



with many fine waved shining lines, and transversely by eight 

 broad black belts, of which the foremost forms an angle at the 

 eve. When it is found of a large size, that is, a foot in length, 

 the transverse belts are faintly marked, the longitudinal lines 

 disappear, and each scale on the sides is marked with an ob- 

 long vertical white spot. 



The head descends with a concavity above the eyes, and is 

 narrow and scaly. The mouth is low, passes back horizontal- 

 ly, and is of moderate size. The under ^'aw is rather the long- 

 est. In each jaw is a row of sharp teeth, of unequal sizes. 

 The tongue is sharp, free, and rough, and the palate is smooth. 

 The hinder aperture of each nostril is oblong, the foremost is 

 circular. The eyes are large and protuberant. The first plate 

 of the gill-covers is indented on the edge, the hinder one ends 

 in a point. The membrane of each gill-cover is half exposed, 

 and contains six rays. 



The back is much arched, and is furrowed for receiving the 

 prickles of the fin. The belly is straight. The scales are 

 large, adhere firmly, and are indented on the edge. The 

 shoulder bones are indented. 



The back fins are united, but distinguishable, each forming 

 an arch, of which the first, as in the third and fourth species, 

 is edged like a saw, and contains eleven prickles ; the second 

 arch contains one prickle and twelve soft divided rays. The 

 pectoral fins are short and rounded, each having nineteen rays. 

 The ventral fins are approximated with a strong prickle. The 

 edge of the fin behind the vent forms an arch, and its prickles 

 are strong. The tail fin contains seventeen distinct rays, be- 

 sides some very short ones. 



7th Species. — Corns nandus. Plate XXX. Fig. 32. 

 A coins witli the fin of the tail fan-shaped ; with thirteen 



