﻿128 GANGETic FISHES. Order IV. 



inserted into a bone, serving as a support common to the 

 whole. 



The lateral lines run straight along the middle of the sides, 

 but, in their fore part, send off a branch, which, forming an 

 arch forward, is then bent up to the back. The vent is far be- 

 fore the middle. The scales adhere firmly j those on the up- 

 per side are finely indented on the edge, those below are 

 smooth. 



There are seven distinct ^W5. That of the back is slightly 

 arched, and contains seventy-three undivided flexible rays, a 

 little longer than the membrane. The pectoral fins are near 

 the ventral, and are very small and sharp above. That on the 

 left is rather the longest, and contains twelve rays, of which 

 the third, fourth, and fifth, are bifid ; while that on the right 

 contains eleven undivided rays. The ventral fins surround 

 that organ, and are very small. Each has six rays, of which 

 the third and fourth are bifid, and the others undivided. The 

 fin behind the vent is slightly arched, and contains fifty-five 

 imdivided flexible rays, a little longer than the membrane. 

 The fin of the tail is undivided and sharp-pointed, and con- 

 tains seventeen rays, of which two on each side are undivided, 

 and the others are branched. 



2d Species. — Pi.euronectes arsius. 



A pleuronectes with the eyes on the left ; with the fin of the 

 tail quite entire, with eighty- one rays in the back fin, and fif- 

 ty-five in that behind the vent ; with a long body ; and with 

 two eye-like spots on the upper lateral line. 



This species has a strong affinity with the last, and also with 

 the Noree nalaka of Dr Eussell, (Indian Fishes, Vol. II. No. 77;) 

 but this last may be readily distinguished by the number of 

 rays in the fins. In Dr Russell's fish there are besides three 



