﻿272 GANGETic FISHES. Order V. 



root. The under lobe of the tail fin is the longest, and it con- 

 tains twenty distinct rays, besides some short compacted ones. 



14th Species. — Cyprinus cocsa. Plate III. Fig. 77. 



A Cyprinus of the Barilius kind, with four tendrils ; with 

 both incomplete bars on the sides, and a spot on the middle 

 of each scale ; with nine rays on the fin of the back ; and with 

 eleven in that behind the vent. 



The Cocsa {Khoksa) is found in the northern rivers of Bengal 

 and Behar, especially in the Mahanunda. It grows to about 

 a span in length, and is shaped like the head of a lance, but is 

 rather more prominent below than above. The short bars on 

 its sides disappear in the dead fish. There is a row of small 

 oblong spots on each side of the lateral line. The fins are yel- 

 low, but, in the dead fish, become white, which is rather un- 

 common, the contrary change of colour being much more 

 usual. The lower lobe of the tail fin is stained with black. 



The head is small and sharpish. The mouth is small, and 

 descends obliquely from the extremity of the head. The Jaws 

 protrude a very little in opening, and the under one is rather 

 the shorter, and is smooth. On each side are two tendrils much 

 shorter than the head, one from the corner of the mouth, the 

 other from the side of the upper jaw. There are scarcely any 

 lips. The nostrils are near the eyes, which are of moderate 

 size. The gill-covers are rounded behind, and edged with a 

 pellucid membrane. Their proper membranes are exposed to 

 view. 



The scales are large, and dotted near the edge. The shoidder- 

 blades are naked and shining. There is a small scale-like ap- 

 pendant above each ventral fin. 



Each pectoral fin contains about thirteen rays. The ventral 

 fins do not reach to the vent, near to which, however, the fin 

 behind it comes. This slopes with a concave edge, and its two 



