CoiuS. GANGETIC FISHES. 87 



to table in that city. It has no doubt the utmost affinity to the 

 Pandoo menoo of Kussell, (Indian Fishes, Vol. II. No. 131,) 

 which he supposes to be the Coclcup of Calcutta ; but, if his 

 delineation of the Pandoo menoo be correct, the two fishes 

 are abundantly distinct, as it belongs to La Cepede's genus 

 Perca, while the Vacti of Calcutta is a Centropomus. Besides, 

 the Pandoo menoo would appear to be a fish very inferior in 

 quality to the Vacti. 



The Vacti abounds in all the mouths of the Ganges, which 

 it ascends as far as the tide, and follows this into marshes, 

 ditches, and ponds; but those found in salt-water are of by far 

 the best quality, as are those about two feet in length. It is 

 often caught five feet long ; but, when it approaches this size, 

 the taste becomes strong, and, when small, it is rather insi- 

 pid. 



The form is rather thick from the back downward; but it is 

 much compressed at the sides, which are nearly vertical. The 

 upper parts are of a green colour^ with a gloss of gold and 

 purple, and have some ill defined longitudinal dotted lines, 

 not, however, to be distinguished in all lights. The lower 

 parts are silvery. The fins are pale dusky. The eyes are 

 white, with amethyst-coloured pupils. 



The head is rather sharp, and its slope forms a curve at the 

 eyes. The space before the eyes is free of scales. The cheek- 

 bones are indented on the lower edge. The mouth descends 

 obliquely backwards. The jaws are within lined by a mem- 

 branous veil : the under one is the longest, the upper one ter- 

 minates in a notch. The bones of the upper lip widen much 

 below. There are numerous small sharp teeth crowded on 

 both jaws, and also on the tongue and palate. The tongue is 

 sharp and free. The palate has two bones at the throat, and 

 three behind the jaw, all covered with teeth. Of the latter 



