﻿132 GANGETic FISHES. Order IV. 



1st Species. — Achirus cynoglossus. 



An achirus with the eyes on the left ; with the fins of the 

 back, tail, and vent united, but distinguishable ; the first con- 

 taining one hundred and two rays, the second twelve, and the 

 third seventy-eight ; and with the left side dotted with 

 brown. 



The only species of this genus, which I have found in the 

 Ganges, is usually called a Sole by the English, on account of 

 its having very exactly the excellent taste of that valuable fish. 

 The native name being somewhat harsh, 1 have translated it 

 into the dialect of Greece. It has the utmost affinity to the 

 Achirus bilineatus of La Cepede, [Hist, des Poissons, Tome IV. 

 p. 659,) which, in its quality, is equally valuable. It has also a 

 strong resemblance to the Jeree potoo of Dr Eussell, (Indian 

 Fishes, Vol. I. No. 73,) which differs in the number of rays sup- 

 porting the fins. Nor is the resemblance less strong between 

 it and the Cynoglossus lingua, described in the Second Order, 

 (p. 32.) Indeed, the two species are so like, as to demonstrate, 

 that the arrangement, founded on the absence or situation of 

 the fins, however convenient, is totally unnatural. 



This fish is found in the mouths of the Ganges as high as the 

 tide reaches, but is not common, except where the water is 

 strongly impregnated with salt, and seldom grows to above six 

 inches in length. 



The Cynoglossus sweems on the right side, is very flat, of a 

 long ova\ form, and covered with scales even on the head. The 

 left, or upper side, is of an uniform brown colour, dotted towards 

 the edges. The right is white. The fins are brown, dotted 

 with black. 



The head, viewed from above, is oval, small, and blunt. The 

 mouth is small, placed at some distance below the extremity of 

 the nose, and passes very obliquely towards the eyes. The lips 



