Batrachoides. gangetic fishes. 35 • 



The head is depressed, blunt, very large, and has scattered 

 on it many soft short filaments, of which those nearest the jaws 

 are longer and branched. At the upper angle of the gill-covers, 

 on each side, are four recumbent prickles. The gap of the 

 mouth, situated at the extremity of the head, is very wide. The 

 jaws are depressed, do not protrude in opening, and the under 

 one is the longest. The lips axe fleshy. In each jaw there is a 

 belt of numerous teeth set close without order. The tongue is 

 smooth. The eyes are high and far forward ; they are remote 

 from each other, small and circular. The nostrils are not dis- 

 tinguishable. The gill-covers are small and covered with skin. 

 Their membranes are very long, and each contains four rays. 

 The apertures are of moderate size, and close to the pectoral 

 fins. 



There is no lateral line nor scales, but over the body are 

 scattered many short soft filaments. The vent is near the 

 middle. 



There are two fins on the back : the first is small, and con- 

 tains three prickles ; the hinder one is long, and contains nine- 

 teen soft rays. The -pectoral fins are rounded, and inserted 

 into a projecting fleshy process : each contains twenty-two soft 

 rays, every one of which is twice divided into two. The ven- 

 tral fins are situated on the throat, are distinct from each other, 

 and commence under the membranes of the gill-covers : each 

 contains one strong prickle and five soft rays. The vent fin 

 has sixteen rays. The tail fin has about fourteen, and is 

 rounded. 



