﻿118 GANGETic FISHES. Order IV. 



branching rays. The pectoral fins are near the middle height 

 of the side, each containing ten rays. The ventral fins reach 

 to the root of the tail fin. The fin behind the vent contains 

 seventeen strong prickles and an equal number of branched 

 rays. The tail fin has sixteen rays, with a very short one at 

 each side. 



2d Species. — Trichopodus bejeus. 



A trichopodus with a notch in the edge of the tail fin ; with 

 inany transverse bars on the sides of green and pale yellow ; 

 with the head armed beneath each eye by an indented sharp 

 bone ; and with the end of the back fin sharp. 



I have not seen this fish longer than four inches. The upper 

 parts are of a dusky green colour, and the lower are white, 

 while the sides are transversely marked by the green and cop- 

 per-coloured bars. The back fin is greenish, with black spots 

 on its fore part, and red spots behind. The fin behind the 

 vent is spotted like that of the back, and edged with red. The 

 tail fin is spotted with black and red, and the eyes are silver- 

 colour, stained with red. On the whole, it has the strongest 

 resemblance to the first species. 



The head is blunt, and armed with a bo7ie below each eye, as 

 in the first species. The edge of the cheek-bone is indented. 

 In hoth jaws there are very minute, but observable teeth. The 

 eyes are of moderate size. The gill-covers are rounded, and in- 

 dented on the edges. Their membranes are concealed, each con- 

 taining about three rays. 



There are no proper lateral lines ; but each scale having on 

 its centre a long elevation, these give an appearance of several 

 lateral lines. 



The back fin terminates behind in a sharp point, and con- 

 tains seventeen prickles and nine soft rays, of which the third 



