Chanda. gangetic fishes. 113 



ray of the second fin is a long prickle. Each pectoral fin has 

 about ten rays. That of the tail has seventeen rays, besides 

 some short compacted ones on each side. 



8th Species. — Chanda ranga. Plate XVI. Fig. 38. 



A chanda with two back fins united, the first indented on the 

 edge, and the second containing one prickle and twelve soft 

 rays ; with fifteen soft rays in the fin behind the vent ; end 

 with a short body covered with scales. 



This is a beautiful little fish, about an inch and a half long, 

 and is found in the fresh waters of all parts of the Gangetic 

 provinces. It is of a rhomboidal form, and, with regard to 

 colour, has a bright green and silver gloss. The whole, except 

 the gill-covers, which are silvered, is diaphanous, showing the 

 muscles, five ribs on each side the back-bone, a silver stripe 

 accompanying the latter, and a silvery membrane that lines the 

 cavity of the abdomen. The upper parts are dotted with 

 black. 



The head is oval and small. The mouth is small, and, when 

 shut, descends obliquely. The jaws, when protruded, form a 

 short trunk ; the under one is the longest : neither has lips. 

 The lower edge of the bones under the nose is indented, as is 

 that of the cheek-bones. In both jaws there are minute teeth. 

 There is scarcely any tongue. The fore part of the palate is tu~ 

 berculated. Each nostril has two circular apertures in the mid- 

 dle, between the eyes and nose. The eyes are large and high. 

 Each gill-cover has four plates, of which the foremost has in- 

 dented edges. The membranes covering the gills are exposed. 



The back has a sharp ridge ; both it and the belly are equal- 

 ly prominent, and slope gradually to the head and tail, but 

 more suddenly to the former. The lateral line is more distinct 

 than in the four preceding species, and forms a small arch 



