﻿212 GANGETic FISHES. Order V. 



The head is short, blunt, somewhat flattened, and half oval, 

 being straight above and prominent below. The hinder part is 

 covered with scales. The mouth is rather large, and extends 

 straight backward from the extremity of the nose. The Jaws 

 are rounded, and nearly of equal length, the lower one being 

 dotted. There are scarcely any lips, nor, in place of the upper, 

 are there any bones. In each jaw are crowded many teeth, ra- 

 ther large for the size of the animal. Each nostril has two aper- 

 tures. The gill-covers are scaly, and conceal their membranes, 

 each of which contains four rays. 



The back is broad, and the belli/ narrow. There is no lateral 

 line. The vent is near the middle. For the size of the fish the 

 scales are large, adhere firmly, and are rough. They are dotted 

 on the centre, and on the edge are marked with concentric 

 streaks. 



The fin on the back is rounded. The pectoral fins are on the 

 middle of the side, sharpest above, and as long as the head, 

 each having sixteen rays. The ventral fins are smaller, and each 

 contains six rays. The fin behind the vetit slopes a little back- 

 ward. The tail fin is large and oval, and has sixteen rays. 



£d Species. — Esox ectuntio. 



An Esox with the fin of the tail rounded ; with the lower jaw 

 three times longer than the upper ; with an angular body ; with 

 thirteen rays in the dorsal fin ; and with eleven in that behind 

 the vent. 



This fish, which does not exceed a foot in length, is found in 

 the smaller rivers and ponds of the Gangetic provinces, but is 

 not very common. It is of a slender make, and tapers to both 

 ends, is slightly compressed at the sides, and in the middle has 

 six longitudinal angles. It is covered with scales, but is some- 

 what diaphanous ; and on each side has a broad longitudinal 



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