﻿304 GANGETic FISHES. Order V. 



times made of them at Dakha. Mahasaula and Tora, variously 

 altered or corrupted, or with various additions, may be consi- 

 dered as generic appellations among the natives for these fishes, 

 all of which frequent large rivers. 



The Putitora is found in the eastern parts of Bengal, and 

 sometimes grows to nine feet in length. It is of an oblong 

 compressed fornix with, however, a great width ; and above is of 

 a dusky colour with a gloss of steel, while the edges of the scales 

 change from gold to silver. The lower parts resemble entire- 

 ly the latter. The fins are without spots, and the hinder ones 

 are tinged with yellow. The eyes are like silver. 



The head is blunt, oval, small, and smooth, with a very 

 minute tendril at each corner of the mouth, and another from 

 each side of the upper jaw. The mouth is small, and opens ho- 

 rizontally. The jaws protrude in opening, and the upper is 

 the longest. The lips are fleshy, and the under one is reflect- 

 ed. The 7iostrils are in the middle between the eyes and nose. 

 The eyes are far forward, and small, with circular pupils. The 

 gill-covers have little or no flesh, and do not conceal their mem- 

 branes. 



The hack from the fin to the head slopes and forms a sharp 

 ridge. The tail is suddenly narrowed at the fin behind the 

 vent, which is behind the middle. The lateral line is scarcely 

 distinsuishable. The scales end with a wide notch. Above 

 each ventral fin is a scale-like appendant. 



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

 slopes behind : the first of its rays is very short, and the second 

 very strong and undivided ; the others are branched, and the 

 last of them divided to the root. The pectoral fins are low, 

 shorter than the head, and sharp above ; each contains fifteen 

 rays. The ventral fins do not reach the vent ; each contains 

 nine rajs. The fin behind the vent is rounded, and may be al- 



