﻿246 GANGETic FISHES. Older V. 



in which it may be received. It slopes gradually backward, 

 and ends in a point. The tail fin is covered at the root with 

 scales, and deeply divided into two sharp equal lobes. It con- 

 tains nineteen distinct rays, besides several short compacted 

 ones on each side. 



2d Species. — Clupanodon chacunda. 



A Clupanodon with eighteen rays in the back fin, nineteen 

 in that behind the vent, eight in each ventral fin, and five in 

 each membrane of the gill-covers, and with the under jaw the 

 shortest. 



This fish, if it be different, has the strongest affinity to the 

 Kowal of Dr Russell, (Indian Fishes, No. 186.) That fish, 

 however, has no spot on the shoulders, and has one ray more 

 both in the fin of the back, and in that behind the vent. 



The Chacunda is found in the Gangetic estuaries, grows 

 from three to eight inches long, and is little valued. It is the 

 deepest, in proportion to its length, of our Gangetic Clupan- 

 odons, and its back is more prominent than its belly. Above 

 it is of a green colour, with a gloss of gold, and beneath silver. 

 The fin of the back is dotted, and that of the tail is yellowish. 

 Behind each gill-cover, on the shoulder, is one large black 

 spot. The eyes are silver coloured. 



The head is of a moderate size, and sharp. The mouth is a 

 little behind the end of the nose, and opens horizontally. 

 The upper jaw is the longest, and has a notch at the end, and 

 the under has a longitudinal ridge, as in the genus Mugil. 

 The bones of the upper Up are dilated toward the end, and en- 

 tire on the edges. The nostril is round, and near the jaw. 

 The eyes are high, large, and circular, and are covered by a 

 thick diaphanous skin : the longest diameter of the pupil is 

 vertical. Each gill-cover consists of four plates, and its mem- 



