﻿296 GANGETic FISHES. Order V. 



scales towards the back, being dotted at the base, give an ap- 

 pearance of longitudinal stripes. 



The head is narrower than the body, and small. The 

 tubercles are round, and scattered over the fore part of the 

 head. The tendrils are minute, two proceeding from the sides 

 of the upper jaw, and two from the corners of the mouth. 

 The month is low and small, and extends straight backward. 

 l^hejaivs protrude in opening ; the upper is the longest. The 

 lips are fleshy, and smooth-edged. The tongue is smooth, 

 sharp, thick, and tied down throughout its whole length. 

 From the middle of the palate is suspended a loose membrane. 

 The nostrils are near the eyes, which are high, flat, large, and 

 round, with circular pupils. The gill-covers are rounded be- 

 hind, and do not conceal their membranes, the bones in which 

 are flat. 



The back slopes gradually in each direction from the be- 

 ginning of the fin, and its edge forms a sharp ridge. The 

 belly is almost straight. The toz7 tapers gradually. The lateral 

 line descends a little, and is rather below the middle of the 

 side. The vent is behind the middle. The body is covered 

 with large smooth-edged scales, adhering firmly. Above each 

 ventral fin is a scale-like appendant. 



The dorsal fin occupies the middle of the back, and slopes 

 behind. The three first of its rays are strong undivided bones, 

 the teeth in the last of them being long and reflected ; the 

 other nine rays are branched, and the last of them is divided 

 to the root. The pectoral fins are low, much shorter than the 

 head, and sharp above. Each contains seventeen rays, of 

 which the first is undivided. The ventral fins are at some dis- 

 tance from each other, and are about as large as the pectorals, 

 each having ten rays, of which the first is very small, and the 

 second undivided. The fin behind the vent occupies the 



