Chandcu gangetic fishes. 109 



]y ; those on the back are dotted round the edges ; while, on 

 the belly, owing to their pellucidity, they are scarcely visible. 

 The two fins of the back, although in some degree united, 

 are very readily distinguishable. The first is rather the high- 

 est, and is supported by seven strong prickles rather longer 

 than the intervening membrane. The first prickle is very 

 short, the second is the longest, and the subsequent ones gra- 

 dually diminish, so that the last is not above half the length of 

 the prickle of the second fin, of which the soft rays are branch- 

 ed, and grow shorter and shorter to its end, which is rather 

 sharp. The pectoral fins are rather small, situated low, and 

 sharp above : each contains thirteen rays. The ventral fins 

 are short. Their prickle is strong, and the membranes inter- 

 vening between the rays do not reach to their ends. The first 

 prickle of the fin behind the vent is short, the second is the 

 longest, and the length of the other rays gradually diminishes, 

 as in the second fin of the back. The tail fin contains fifteen 

 distinct rays, besides some short compacted ones on each 

 side. 



4th Species. — Chanda nama. 4 

 A chanda with two back fins united, the second containing 

 sixteen soft rays ; with fifteen soft rays in the fin of the vent ; 

 and with the body long, and devoid of scales. 



This fish is common in ponds throughout Bengal, and sel- 

 dom exceeds three or four inches in length. The back and 

 belly form arches nearly equal, and slope gradually to the 

 mouth, and end of the tail. In respect to colour, the upper part 

 of the head, the back, belly, and tail, are diaphanous, so as to 

 discover the ribs and back-bone, a silver line running along 

 the latter, and the former being seen over a silvery membrane 

 that lines the visceral cavity. The lower parts of the head. 



