Cheilodipterus. gangetic fishes. 55 



longing to the genus Gobiomorus of La Cepede, the affinity of 

 the two first species to the last division of the genus Gohius be- 

 ing so great, that they are considered by the natives as belong- 

 ing to the same genus, which they call Bele, or Baliya. The 

 first species has no teeth, and the rays of its first dorsal fin are 

 soft ; but the second species, which has teeth and prickles on 

 its back, connects it strongly with the third species, very near- 

 ly allied to several species of Perca. This, joined to all the spe- 

 cies having large openings to the gills, and eyes remote from 

 each other, has induced me to place the whole under the ge- 

 nus Cheilodipterus. Perhaps, however, by following a divi- 

 sion of which La Cepede has not availed himself, and by sepa- 

 rating the thoracic fishes with prickly fins from those which 

 are unarmed, the first of the three following fishes should be 

 separated from the other two, and should be immediately fol- 

 lowed by the genus Ophiocephalus, to which it has a consider- 

 able affinity. 



The circumstances common to these three fishes, besides 

 what is contained in the generic character, are as follows • 



Their length, in proportion to their thickness, is consider- 

 able, and their bodies are very slightly compressed. The head, 

 gill-covers, and body, are covered with scales. The eyes are 

 small and high, but at a distance from each other. There are 

 eight fins, and the two on the back are quite distinct. 



1st Species. — Cheilodipterus culius. Plate V. Fig. 16. 



A cheilodipterus with the tail fin rounded, and with six soft 

 rays in the first fin of the back. 



This small fish, which grows to three or four inches in length, 

 is pretty common in the ponds and ditches of Bengal, but is 

 little valued. It is tenacious of life, and is remarkable for the 

 colours above being lighter than those on the belly. In dirty 



