CotUS. GANGETIC FISHES. 91 



hind the vent ; with the first branch of the second ray in each 

 ventral fin lengthened into a bristle ; and with a black diffuse 

 spot on each side. 



This fish is very nearly allied to the Doondiawah of Dr Rus- 

 sell, (Indian Fishes, Vol. I. No. 97,) which has twenty-five rays 

 in the dorsal fins. It is also nearly allied to the Mungi mupu- 

 dee of Dr Russell, (Indian Fishes, Vol. II. No. 110,) which has 

 five bluish longitudinal stripes, and several rows of crowded 

 teeth in each jaw. 



The Anthias Johnii of Bloch, (Ichth. Tome IX. p. 97, Planche 

 CCCXVIII.) or Lutianus Johnii of La Cepede, (Hist, des Pois- 

 sons, Tome IV. p. 235,) is also very nearly allied to our fish, 

 and differs chiefly in all its head being covered with scales, and 

 in the form of the back and ventral fins. 



The catus is as large as the vacti, but is inferior in quality 

 for eating. It is found in the larger estuaries of the Ganges, 

 and is a very beautiful fish in colour, shining with a silvery gloss, 

 and being striped longitudinally on the sides with many rows 

 of black spots, each occupying the middle of a scale. There 

 are, besides, on the back three irregular dark marks, of which 

 the two foremost are indistinct; but the last, placed below the 

 hinder prickles of the back fin, is pretty well defined. The hin- 

 der fins are edged, or tinged, with pale red. 



The head is sharpish, and narrower than the body, but ra- 

 ther large, and of half an oval form. Before the eyes there are 

 no scales. The mouth passes straight back parallel to the un- 

 der part of the head. The under jaw is rather the shorter. 

 The bones of the upper lip are rather large, and end as if cut 

 transversely. In both jaws is a single row of sharp conical un- 

 equal teeth. The tongue is blunt and free. The palate, on its 

 fore part, has three bones, of which the two foremost are 

 smooth, and the other covered with very minute teeth. The 



