Pleuronectes. gangetic fishes. t 129 



eye-like spots ; one on the lateral line, a second above, and 

 a third below that organ. 



The arsius (arsi) is a small fish which I found in the estu- 

 ary below Calcutta. Its shape entirely resembles that of the 

 nauphala ; but it is smooth on both sides. The upper or left 

 is of a greenish colour, with several brown cloud-like spots, 

 and two that resemble eyes on the lateral line. The centre 

 of these spots is black, and each is surrounded by an interrupt- 

 ed white circle. The under side is white. The fins are 

 clouded. 



The head is oval, sharp, small, and covered with scales. The 

 mouth is large, and, when shut, forms an oblique arch. The 

 jaws in opening are not protruded; the under one is the short- 

 est. The bones of the upper Up are dilated at their lower 

 ends. The teeth in both jaws are placed in a single row, taper 

 to a sharp point, are large, and nearly equal in size, and stand 

 at some distance from each other. On the left side there are 

 two small nostrils in the middle between the jaw and eyes. 

 The eyes are green and convex, with kidney-shaped pupils. 

 The gill-covers are scaly, move freely, and conceal their mem- 

 branes, each of which contains three or four rays. 



The lateral lines behind are straight, and in the middle ; 

 over the pectoral fins they are arched, and, dividing on the 

 head into two branches, which reunite at the nose, include a 

 space which, on the left, contains the eye next the tail. On 

 the right a third branch turns off to the back. The vent is 

 very far forward. The scales are minute, and, so far as I can 

 judge, smooth on the edge. 



There are seven distinct fins. That of the back reaches 

 from the eyes to the end of the tail, forming an arch. The 

 pectoral fins placed near the middle of the sides are small and 

 sharp, each containing ten rays. Each ventral fin has six 



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