] 52 Remarks on Fishes. 



The caudal is square, but entire* The scales (f. 4. pi. V.) are 

 large, soft, and transparent ; terminating in a posterior denti- 

 culated margin. 



The ovarium of the female (f. 7. pi. V.) is situated beneath 

 the air-vessel (b), and with that organ occupies a large propor- 

 tion of the abdominal cavity. The oviduct as well as the aper- 

 ture of the intestine is situated in a soft fleshy prominence in 

 front of the anal fin. The ova are large, and do not amount 

 to more than a few hundred : when the ovarium is fully deve- 

 loped, the ova are pentangular from pressure ; but when dis- 

 charged they assume an oval form. The males appear to be 

 far more numerous than females, and are easily distinguished 

 by a small red oval body (d. f. 8) situated behind the air- 

 vessel. There is the same protuberance in front of the anal 

 fin in males as in the females. 



The investigation of these minute diaphanous species re- 

 quires to be conducted under the microscope while they are 

 alive, or immediately after they have died in water. If im- 

 mersed in spirits they become so opaque and contracted as 

 to render their examination unsatisfactory. The subject is 

 very important, and its investigation is calculated to cast much 

 light on the natural affinities of larger and more important 

 species. We have been indebted to Mr. J. W. Grant for 

 most of the specimens examined ; they were obtained from 

 tanks in the vicinity of Calcutta during the month of March. 



Note. Fig. 6, plate V. is probably a distinct species, but I was unable 

 to discover any thing in its general form and structure distinct from 

 the others, except the head and teeth. The specimen when examined 

 was somewhat dry and shrivelled, which may in some degree account 

 for its peculiarity of form, except in the teeth, which are large and 

 conical, in a single row connected to each other by a membraneous 

 ridge, as in Fig. 5, plate V. while in all the other individuals the teeth 

 were hooked in the front of the jaw and straight towards the angle of 

 the mouth, as in the lower figures. Fig. 7 is a magnified representation 

 of the form of the ova in the ovarium. 



