66 gangetic fishes. Order IV. 



young fish the colours are very different. An orange-coloured 

 stripe runs from the eye to the tail, parallel to the back. The 

 dark belts descend no lower than this, nor are there any white 

 spots on the sides, nor fins. The eye-like spot, however, is al- 

 ways observable on the fin of the tail ; but, in the young fish, 

 the black of the centre is surrounded by an orange-coloured 

 ring. The fin of the back, towards its posterior part, has se- 

 veral pale stripes, descending obliquely backward. 



The head is rather narrow. In opening the upper jaw is 

 protruded, and its lip on each side is provided with a bone, 

 which is dilated downward. In the whole extent of both jaws 

 there are many small clustered teeth, with a single row of lar- 

 ger ones. The tongue ends in a sharpish point. The palate 

 near the jaws has many small teeth collected in three clusters, 

 the middle one of which, connecting the other two, is in form 

 of a crescent. The eyes are far forward, and rather large, and 

 have circular pupils. The gill-covers end in a sharp point, and 

 each of their membranes contains four rays. 



The lateral lines are evidently distinguishable. The vent is 

 before the middle. The scales on the head are very large and 

 angular : on the body they are of moderate size, smooth, and 

 dotted ; and, in general, are marked on the centre by a longi- 

 tudinal elevated line. 



The back fin is rounded behind, and its rays near the fore 

 part are bifid, while those towards the tail are branched. Each 

 pectoral fin contains nineteen rays, of which one on each side 

 is simple, while the intermediate ones are branched. The ven- 

 tral fins are sharp-pointed, and each contains one short undi- 

 vided ray, and five branched ones. The anal fin is rounded 

 behind, and contains from thirty-one to thirty-five rays. The 

 rays in the fin of the tail are fifteen in number. 



