Gobioides. gangetic fishes. 37 



plates, are quite entire on the edges, are covered with a thick 

 smooth skin, and move freely. The membranes- of the gills 

 project under the covers, and leave on each side a moderate 

 aperture. 



The lateral line is in the middle of the side, and is straight. 

 The vent is before the middle. 



There are six fins. The dorsal runs nearly the whole length 

 of the back, and all its rays are nearly equal to each other in 

 length. The pectoral fins are very short, and rounded- The 

 ventral fin, composed of two united, is concave below, short, 

 and rounded. The anal fin extends the whole length of the 

 tail, and its rays are nearly equal in length to each other. The 

 tail fin is oval, and ends in a very sharp point. 



1st Species. — Gobioides rubicundus. Plate V. Fig. 9. 



A gobioides with the back, tail, and anal fins united, and with' 

 forty- six rays in the first, and forty in the last. 



This fish is found in the estuaries of the Ganges. It is of 

 a lurid appearance, and faint colours; dirty brown above, and 

 red below. 



The head is wider than the body, and marked near the snout 

 with a kidney-shaped depression. The upper jam in opening 

 is protruded ; the under ends in a point turned inwards. In 

 each jaw is a row of long sharp uncovered teeth, which project 

 forward. On the inside of these large teeth are many small 

 ones, scattered without order. The tongue is smooth, fleshy, 

 blunt, and tied down its whole length. The palate is smooth. 

 Each nostril consists of one small aperture near the eye. The 

 gill membrane contains five rays. 



The throat projects a little. The lateral line is sunk, and 

 sends off veins, as it were, towards each side. Th^re are no 

 scales. The tail is like a wedge. 



