﻿102 GANGETic FISHES. Order IV. 



and with a silvery body, iiaving on tlie back large black 

 spots. 



This fish, which is rather anomalous, is found in the mouths 

 of the Ganges, grows to about a foot in length, and is consider- 

 ed as very poor eating. Contrary to what happens in the form 

 of all the other species, the greatest width is behind the middle, 

 and it is more prominent below than above. It is much com- 

 pressed on the sides. The greater part is of a bright silvery 

 colour, with a little green on the back, where, on each side, 

 there are five or six large oblong irregular black spots. The 

 back fin approaches to an olive colour, and at the hinder end 

 has a large black spot. The fin behind the vent toward the 

 edge is blackish. The eyes are silver coloured. 



The head is oval, sharpish, and small ; above smooth, and 

 below rough. The cheek-bones are indented on the lower edge. 

 The mouth is very large, and, when shut, descends obliquely 

 backward. The under jaw is the longest, and is covered with 

 scales, as are also the bone of the upper lip, which are nar- 

 row. The teeth in both jaws are sharp, slender, very short, and 

 crowded in great numbers. The tongue is sharpish, osseous, 

 rough, and I'ree. The palate is covered in part by three rough 

 bones, of which the two at the sides are very large and parallel. 

 There are two round bones at the entrance into the throat. 

 The foremost aperture of each nostril is tubular, the hinder one 

 circular. The eijes are large and circular, with the greatest 

 axis of the pupil in a vertical position. The gill-covers are 

 rounded behind, each consisting of two smooth edged plates. 

 Their membi^anes are partly exposed to viev/, each containing 

 seven rays. 



The back descends very gently. The belly is very prominent, 

 and its ridge is sharpish. The vent is near the middle. The 

 scales on the upper parts are large and smooth edged ; on the 



