GORAMY TRICHOPUS. 



the hind part of the back, and the lower part of 

 the abdomen sharpening into a carina : the bases 

 of the dorsal and anal fin are also scaly, as in the 

 genus ChaBtodon: mouth somewhat extensile, each 

 jaw being furnished with a double row of teeth, 

 those of the outer row short and slightly curved, 

 those of the inner row smaller and more closely 

 set : in the palate is a callous protuberance : the 

 tongue is situated deep in the fauces, and in the 

 inside of the mouth, above the gills, is a kind of 

 ethmoid bone, the use of which does not appear to 

 be well ascertained : the dorsal fin is of moderate 

 width, and reaches from the back of the head almost 

 to the tail, near which it is very much rounded : 

 the vent is situated towards the fore-part of the 

 body, and the anal fin reaches from it in the manner 

 of the dorsal, but is much wider : the pectoral fins 

 are of moderate size : the ventral consist each of 

 about six rays, of which the first is strong and sharp, 

 and the second terminated by an extremely long 

 filament, reaching as far as the end of the tail 

 which is of a rounded shape : the lateral line is 

 strait, and seated somewhat nearer the back than 

 the abdomen : the colour of this species is reddish 

 brown, somewhat paler on the under parts : the 

 sides are tinged with a silvery hue, and the scales 

 are bordered with brown : it is greatly esteemed 

 in China as an article of food, and is known by 

 the name of Goramy : it is a prolific species, and 

 is easily introduced into new situations ; having 

 been imported into Java and many other of the 

 eastern islands. 



