CotUS. GANGETIC FISHES. 101 



smooth. The foremost aperture of each nostril is tubular. The 

 eyes are placed very far forward, and are reddish. Each gill- 

 cover consists of three plates, the two hindmost of which are 

 indented with numerous strong parallel spines ; and, while the 

 fish is on land, are powerful organs of locomotion. The mem- 

 branes of the gill-covers are mostly exposed, and are so thick, 

 and covered with scales, as to conceal the rays, if they contain 

 any. The bones of the gills are provided on the inside with a 

 row of tubercles. 



The back and belly are nearly equally prominent, the former 

 having a furrow for the first fin, as has the tail for the fin 

 behind the vent. The lateral lines are broken into two portions, 

 opposite to the hinder prickles of the back and vent fins. The 

 vent is rather behind, but very near the middle. The scales are 

 large, dotted, and indented round the edge. 



The back fins, although fully united, are distinguishable. The 

 foremost has throughout nearly the same height, and an edge 

 indented like a saw, and contains all the prickles which are 

 strong. The second ends somewhat sharply behind. The pec- 

 toral fins are blunt, but longest above, and each contains six- 

 teen branched rays. The ventral fins have no bristles, and are 

 short. The fin behind the vent consists of two united ; the 

 foremost having an arched indented edge, and being supported 

 by prickles ; while the hinder is higher, ends in a sharpish 

 point, and contains the soft rays. The tail fin is nearly round, 

 approaching a little to the fan-shape, and contains about four- 

 teen rays. 



9th Species. — Coius chatareus. Plate XIV, Fig. 34. 

 A coius with the tail fin ending in a concave edge ; with one 

 back fin containing five prickles and twelve soft rays ; with 

 three prickles and sixteen soft rays in the fin behind the vent ; 



