﻿224 GANGETic FISHES. Order V. 



affinity to the genera Perca, Labrus, Spams, &c. of Linnaeus, be- 

 longing to the fourth order, than to any included in the fifth 

 order, which shows that this arrangement, taken from the posi- 

 tion of the lower fins, is quite artificial. 



The body in the genus Polynemus is long in proportion to its 

 thickness, and is covered with scales. 



The head is oval and small. The nose projects beyond the 

 mouthy which is large, and extends directly back. There are 

 scarcely any lips, but, in place of the upper, are two flat bones 

 rounded behind. The teeth in both jaws are sharp, small, and 

 crowded. Each nostril has two apertures. The eyes are cover- 

 ed by a thick pellucid skin or substance. The edges of the 

 cheeJc-bones are indented. The gill-covers are scaly. 



The rays before the pectoral fins are not jointed, in which 

 this genus differs from the Trigla. 



There are two distinct remote back fins. The foremost on 

 the shoulders is supported by slender prickles, all separated by 

 interposed membranes. The hinder fin is far back on the tail, 

 and partly covered by scales. Each ventral fin contains one 

 prickle and five divided rays. The fin behind the vent, and that 

 of the tail, are scaly, and the latter is divided into two unequal 

 lobes. 



1st Species. — Polynemus teria. 



A Polynemus with four detached rays before each pectoral 

 fin, and with the fin of the tail divided into two lobes. 



Maga jellee, Eussell's Indian Fishes, Vol. II. No. 18S. 



At one time I thought that this fish might have been the 

 Trigla asiatica of Linnaeus ; but the Polynemus asiaticus of Bon- 

 naterre, [Tabl. Encycl. p. 183,) which is supposed to be the 

 same, would appear to have only one fin on the back. For 



