﻿116 GANGETic FISHES. Order IV. 



ed edges. The mouth is small and high, and, when shut, has a 

 great descent : when open, \hejaws protrude far, so as to form 

 a kind of trunk. The teeth are either altogether wanting or very 

 minute, so as, in general, to be a mere roughness, distinguish- 

 able more by the feel than by sight. Each nostril has a double 

 aperture. The eyes are high on the sides of the head, and ge- 

 nerally far forv/ard. The gill-covers are scaly, move freely, and 

 leave an ample opening at each side. 



The back and belly are both nearly equally and regularly 

 arched, nor, in general, is there any sudden contraction from 

 the mouth to the tail fin ; but the greatest width is before the 

 middle of the fish. The vent is far before the middle. The 

 edges of the scales are finely indented. 



The back fin extends from the apertures of the gills to near 

 the fin of the tail, and rises gradually from the first prickle to 

 near the end. It consists of two parts, distinguished by the na- 

 ture of their rays, but not separated by any division or inter- 

 ruption. The first part, which is the longest, is supported by 

 prickles, and is indented on the edge like a saw : the second 

 part, which is the highest, is supported by soft rays. ^The pec- 

 toral fins are fan-shaped, and short. The ventral fins have no 

 membrane, are placed before the pectorals, and each consists 

 of one soft ray, shaped like a bristle, and very long, extending 

 near, at least, to the commencement of the tail fin. The fin 

 behind the vent resembles in structure that of the back, and 

 extends almost the whole length of the tail. The fin of the tail 

 is fan-shaped ; but, in some species, has more or less of a con- 

 cavity on its hinder edge. 



The Bengalese give to all the species the generic name Colisa, 

 (Kholisha ;) but the first, being considered as the prototype of 

 the genus, receives this name without addition, while each of 



