Bold. GANGETIC FISHES. 18 



are short, the first soft ray being undivided, while the others are 

 branched. The tail fin is sharp-pointed, and contains seventeen 

 distinct rays, besides some on each side closely compacted to- 

 gether. 



5th Species. — Bola cuja. Plate XII. Fig. 27. 



A bola with ten prickles in the first back fin, and one prickle 

 with twenty-eight soft rays in the second ; with two prickles 

 and seven soft rays in the fin behind the vent ; with the first 

 branch of the second ray in the ventral fins lengthened like a 

 bristle ; with the under jaw rather the longer ; and with the 

 sides variegated longitudinally with black interrupted stripes. 



This is a large fish, growing to between four and five feet in 

 length, and is found in the estuaries of the Ganges. By the 

 fishermen it is not classed with the Bolas, but with the Vakti, 

 a fish which will be described among those belonging to the 

 next genus. It, however, belongs to the genus Bola, as I have 

 defined it, while the other Vakti belongs rather to the genus 

 Coins. 



The Cuja is in colour a very beautiful fish, shining like sil- 

 ver, with a slight tinge of green on the back, while its sides are 

 finely variegated with black spots, disposed in longitudinal 

 stripes. The back fins are finely spotted with black. 



The head is rather narrow, and slopes suddenly at the eyes. 

 The mouth extends to the very extremity of the head, the un- 

 der jaw being rather the longest, and descends a little back- 

 ward. The upper lip is double. In each jaw is a single row 

 of sharp conical teeth, nearly straight, and equal in size. In 

 the fore part of the palate are four oblong naked bones. In 

 the throat are two circular ones covered with teeth. The wos- 

 trils are near the eyes, the hinder openings being oval, and the 

 fore ones circular. The eyes are round, and of moderate size, 



L 



