1 I 



i 



\ 



INTRODUCTION. 



In this work I have described the Fishes found in the Ganges 

 and its tributary streams. Notwithstanding the great variety 

 of species here mentioned, I am persuaded, that the list is far 

 from being complete. For the two last years, indeed, of my 

 stay in India, and while engaged in countries remote from the 

 sea, I met with but few species that I had not before describ- 

 ed ; but, previous to my departure for Europe, on returning 

 to the vicinity of the numerous and large estuaries by which 

 this enormous river enters the sea, I daily met with species 

 which I had never before seen. Besides, it is probable, that, in 

 the Alpine sources of the Ganges and its branches, there are a 

 good many species which are not to be found in the rivers of 

 the plains, nor in the torrents among the puny hills of the 

 south. During a year's residence, however, near the capital of 

 Nepal, I observed few species that I had not previously seen ; 

 but fishing is not a favourite art among the people of that coun- 

 try, so that my opportunities of investigation were not great. 

 On the whole, I do not think, that, in the rivers above, where 

 the tide reaches, more than one kind in five has escaped my no- 

 tice ; — while of those found in the estuaries I have not proba- 



