﻿186 GANGETic FISHES. Order V. 



lips are fleshy. There are no visible teeth. The apertures of 

 each nostril are nearer the jaw than the eye, and are separated 

 only by the tendril. The eyes are high and far back, and are 

 minute with circular pupils. The gill-covers are rough, with 

 small tubercles. Each membrane contains four or five very 

 slender rays. There is no slit under the throat. 



The back slopes very little toward the head. On the sides 

 are scattered many small tubercles. The lateral line runs near- 

 ly straight along the middle of the side. The vent is rather 

 behind the middle. 



In the foremost fin of the back, the first ray is a very short 

 bone ; the second is a prickle smooth on the edges, and the 

 others are branched. Each of the pectoral fins has ten rays, of 

 which the first is a prickle indented behind. Each ventral fin 

 contains six rays. The three first rays of the fin behind the 

 vent are undivided, and lengthen gradually from the first, 

 which is very short. The tail fin has nineteen distinct rays, 

 besides some that are compacted. 



20th Species. — Pimelodus bagarius. Plate VII. Fig. 62. 

 A Pimelodus with the tail fin divided into two very long- 

 pointed unequal lobes ; with eight tendrils not longer than 

 the head ; with a scabrous opaque body, variegated with black 

 irregular marks ; with thirteen rays in the fin behind the vent; 

 and with eight in the foremost fin of the back. 



The Bagarius (vaghari) grows often to a large size, and is 

 sometimes above six feet in length. It is a very ugly animal, 

 with lurid colours. The fish is very long in proportion to its 

 breadth, and rather flattened, but more prominent above than 

 below. It tapers gradually to the end of the tail from the first 

 fin of the back. The skin above, although slimy, has many 

 small tubercles, that give it a scabrous feel. The colour is 



