Trichopodus. gangetic fishes. 119 



is the longest. Each pectoral fin contains nine rays. The ven- 

 tral fins reach to the end of the tail fin. The fin behind the 

 vent ends behind in a sharp point, and contains sixteen prickles 

 and seventeen soft rays, of which the seventh is the longest. 

 The tail fin is shaped like a fan ; but in the centre of its edge 

 there is a notch. It contains sixteen long rays, and a short 

 one at each side. 



3d Species. — Trichopodus cotra. 



A trichopodus with the fin of the tail fan-shaped, and with 

 transverse bars on the sides of green and blue. 



I have not seen this fish longer than two inches. Above it 

 is of a green copper colour: beneath it changes with copper and 

 silver glosses, and on the tail is added a gloss of purple. On 

 the sides are many transverse blue bars. The back and tail 

 fins have dusky spots ; that of the vent has blue spots and a 

 red edge. 



The head is sharp, and, before the eyes, unarmed, and the 

 edges of the cheek-bones are not indented. No teeth are ob- 

 servable. The eyes are rather small, but protuberant. The 

 foremost plate of the gill-covers has an indented edge. Their 

 membranes are concealed, with about four rays in each, but the 

 rays are indistinctly seen. 



At the nape there is a kind of concavity, the slope being 

 there somewhat sudden. The belly terminates in a ridge. 

 There are no lateral lines. 



The back fin contains seventeen prickles and eight soft rays. 

 Each of the pectoral fins has nine rays. The ventral fins ex- 

 tend to the last prickle of the back. The fin behind the vent 

 contains nineteen prickles and sixteen soft rays. The tail fin 

 contains seventeen rays. 



