34 gangetic fishes. Order III. 



ORDER III. 



FISHES HAVING THE DORSAL SPINE OF BONE AND THE VEN- 

 TRAL FINS PLACED BEFORE THE PECTORALS. 



I, Genus. — Batrachoides. 

 Fishes of the third order, with a large depressed head, and 

 with a very large mouth, which is surrounded by tendrils. 



1st Species. — Batrachoides gangene. Plate XIV. Fig. 8. 



A batrachoides with a body devoid of scales, but scattered 

 over with short filaments ; with three prickles on the back, and 

 four on each side of the head. 



This fish has a strong resemblance to the Batrachoides tau of 

 La Cepede, {Hist, des Poissons, Tome II. p. 452;) which, by 

 Bloch, {Ichth. Tome II. p. 150, PI. LXVII. fig. 2 and 3) has been 

 classed in the genus Gadus along with the cod, haddock, whit- 

 ing, &c. from which it has been most properly removed. I 

 doubt much whether our fish be different from the Coitus 

 gruniens, although the number of rays in its fins differs some- 

 what from that stated by Bonnaterre, (Tabl. Encyclop.) and al- 

 though a Coitus should have the ventral fins placed behind the 

 pectorals ; but in Bloch's figure of the Coitus gruniens the fins 

 are placed as in the fish I am now describing. 



The gangene is found in the salt-water estuaries of the 

 Ganges, is an ugly animal, does not exceed a span in length, 

 and when frightened emits a remarkable creaking noise. It is 

 of a conical shape, slippery, and its colour is variegated with black 

 and brown as it were in clouds. The fins are yellowish-brown 

 variegated with black. The eyes are reddish. 



