﻿Mugil. GANGETIC FISHES. 215 



a fan, and has fifteen distinct rays, besides some short compact- 

 ed ones at each side. 



XII. Genus. — Mugil. 



Fishes of the fifth order, with the body covered by scales ; 

 with two fins, supported by rays, on the back ; with no detach- 

 ed rays before the pectoral fins ; and with a longitudinal ridge 

 in the middle of the lower jaw. 



All the species of Mugil which I have found in the Ganges 

 have in common the following particulars, besides those men- 

 tioned above. 



The head is small, blunt, and in part, at least, covered with 

 scales. The bones in the upper Up are minute, or altogether 

 wanting. The mouth is small, or at least moderate in size, and 

 has no teeth. There is no tongue. The eyes are high, and far 

 forward, and are of moderate size. The gill-covers are large 

 and scaly. 



The body, in proportion to its thickness, is long, and covered 

 with scales ; its lower edge is rounded. The vent is behind the 

 middle. There are no scale-like appendants above the pectoral 

 or ventral fins. 



All the rays of the foremost fin of the back, which is quite se- 

 parate from the hinder, are distinctly separated by membranes, 

 and are all undivided prickles. 



1st Species. — Mugil parsia. Plate XXII, Fig. 71. 



A Mugil with nine rays in the hinder fin of the back ; with 

 three prickles and eight soft rays in that behind the vent ; with 

 the end of the tail fin crescent-shaped ; with two apertures in 

 each nostril ; with the gill-covers rounded j with a sloping head ; 

 and without stripes on the sides, which are scabrous. 



This fish grows sometimes to a span in length, but is seldom 



