Murcena. gangetic fishes. 23 



colour, variegated with paler and darker shades : beneath it is 

 of a dirty yellow. 



2d Species. — Murjena maculata of La Cepede ? 



A murcena with the under jaw the longest ; with a green 

 body variegated with black irregular marks ; and with the back, 

 tail, and anal fins, united into one. 



La Cepede (Hist, des Poissons, Tome II. p. 265) can scarce- 

 ly be excused for changing the name guttata given by Forskael 

 to maculata. The eel, which these authors describe, is found 

 in the Nile, and I found this in the Ganges, where that river 

 passes through Behar. The description given by La Cepede 

 is so imperfect, that I am uncertain whether the animal of the 

 Ganges belongs to the same species with that of the Nile. 



The Gangetic fish is a very ugly animal, and, when old, is 

 said to grow very thick in proportion to its length ; that is, 

 when full grown, it is about two and a half cubits in length, 

 and one cubit in circumference ; but in this, I suspect, there 

 is some mistake, as the largest which I procured, and which 

 was three feet two inches long, was only six inches and a half 

 round. 



The colour of the lower parts is white. 



The head is wider than the body. The under jaw is a little 

 longer than the upper. The nostrils are double : the foremost 

 are close to the jaw, being tubular. The hinder apertures are 

 near the eyes, which are high. 



There is no lateral line. 



The bach, vent, and tail fins are so thick, that the number of 

 rays cannot be ascertained. Each pectoral fin contains twenty- 

 four. 



