94 gangetic fishes. Order IV. 



the hinder one prickle and ten soft rays, of which the last is di- 

 vided to the root into two. The pectoral fins are small and 

 acuminated above, and each contains thirteen rays. The ven- 

 tral fins are large and remote, and each contains one prickle 

 and five soft rays. The edge of the vent fin is rounded. It 

 contains eleven rays, of which the three first are strong prickles, 

 the others are divided, and the last is bifid to the root. The 

 tail fin is forked, with blunt ends, and contains eighteen dis- 

 tinct rays, besides some short compacted ones at each side. 



5th Species. — Coius gudgutia. 



A coius with the tail fin terminating in a straight line ; with 

 the united back fins containing twelve prickles and fourteen 

 soft rays ; with three prickles and seven soft rays in the fin be- 

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

 each ventral fin lengthened in form of a bristle. 



This fish is found in the mouths of the Ganges, and grows to 

 about six inches in length. It is rather wide in proportion to 

 its length, and much compressed, and its colour above is green- 

 ish, with faint longitudinal stripes, while below it is silvery. 

 The back fins have faint black spots. The eyes are like 

 silver. 



The head is oval, bluntish ; of a moderate size, and rough. 

 The mouth, when shut, extends directly back. The under jaw 

 is the shortest. The bones of the upper lip are small, and end 

 blunt as if cut across. The teeth in both jaws are slender and 

 crowded. The tongue is sharp, fleshy, and dotted. The palate 

 is smooth. The apertures of the nostrils are oblong. The eyes 

 are rather large, with the shortest axis across the length of the 

 fish, while that of the pupil is in the contrary direction. The 

 hinder edge of the cheek-bones is indented. Each gill-cover is 

 rounded behind, covered with scales, and consists of two smooth 



