68 gangetic fishes. Order IV. 



6th Species. — Ophiocephalus gachua. Plate XXI. 



Fig. 21. 



An ophioce phalus with, about thirty-six rays in the fin of the 

 back, and five in each ventral ; and with irregular dusky belts 

 across the back. 



This fish, which sometimes grows to a foot in length, but 

 seldom exceeds a span, is very common in the ponds and 

 ditches of Bengal, and is one of those which are supposed to 

 fall with the rain from heaven. In fact, with the first heavy 

 showers of the season, it has been often seen leaping and wrig- 

 gling among the grass ; and both by natives and many Euro- 

 peans is supposed to have fallen with the rain. I have, how- 

 ever, no doubt, that the animal, when thus discovered, has 

 been in search of a more commodious abode. During the dry 

 season it has suffered much from being pent up in half putrid 

 stagnant pools, so that, when the first heavy rains fall, it is eager 

 to enjoy the grateful supply of fresh- water, and wriggles among 

 the moist grass in search of more room, and of the food, which 

 must have been nearly exhausted in the pools that it formerly 

 occupied. 



The body above is of a greenish colour, and below of a dirty 

 white. Several dark belts run across the back to the lateral 

 lines, descending obliquely forward. The throat and insertions 

 of the pectoral fins are bluish. The fins of the back and tail 

 are greenish, edged first with black, and then with dirty red. 

 The pectorals are pale brick colour, with several rows of blue 

 spots. The anal fin is of a dirty pale bluish-green, edged with 

 black, and then with white. 



The head is wider than the body. The upper jaw, in open- 

 ing, is little, if at all, protruded. The only long teeth are in 

 the fore part of the upper jaw. The tongue is rather sharp. 

 The gums project behind the teeth, nor has the palate any of 



