Trichiurus. gangetic fishes. 31 



VI. — Genus trichiurus. 

 Fishes of the second order, with bodies very much compress- 

 ed, and ending in a tail, which is drawn out to a long narrow 

 point, and has no fin. 



1st Species. — Trichiurus lepturus. 



A trichiurus with the under jaw longer than the upper. 



This fish, by the English in India, is called Bombelo, has a 

 rich taste, is easily dried in the sun, and is found in great quan- 

 tities in our estuaries. Bloch, (Ichth. Planche CL VIII.) Bonna- 

 terre, [Tabl. Encycl.) and La Cepede, {Hist, des Poissons, Tome 

 II. p. 182, PI. VII. fig. 1,) allow only one hundred and seventy 

 rays in the dorsal fin of their Trickiurus lepturus, which fre- 

 quents the fresh waters of South America ; and La Cepede's 

 figure represents the lower jaw as terminated by an acute 

 turned-up point. This leads me to suspect that their fish and 

 ours are different species, although no doubt very similar ; and 

 I suspect the same of Dr Russell's Trichiurus lepturus, (Indian 

 Fishes, No. 41,) which has one hundred and twenty rays in 

 the back fin, and a sharp under jaw. Perhaps, therefore, three 

 fishes have been included under one name ; but this being un- 

 certain, I think it unnecessary to multiply distinctions, and 

 shall only add a full description, so that those who have an op- 

 portunity may judge how far any differences to be observed in 

 different places may be adequate to distinguish these kindred 

 fishes into different species. 



Our Bengal fish is about a foot in length, very long, and 

 much compressed, so as to resemble the blade of a very sharp^ 

 pointed sword. It is every where of a bright silver colour. 



The head is very much compressed, and devoid of scales. 

 The under jaw is the longest, and ends very blunt. In both 



