130 gangetic fishes. Order IV. 



rays. The edge of the fin behind the vent is arched. The 

 tail fin is rounded behind, and contains sixteen rays. 



3d Species. — Pleuronectes pan. Plate XXIV. Fig. 42. 



A pleuronectes with the eyes on the right ; with the fins of 

 the back, tail, and vent, united into one ; with a short body ; 

 and with five bristle-like rays in each pectoral fin. 



This fish has all the marks mentioned by Linnaeus in his 

 specific character of the Pleuronectes plagiusa ; 3'et it would be 

 strange if the same species should be found inhabiting the 

 mouths of rivers in India and Carolina, where the P. plagiusa 

 lives. The accounts of this last fish in the Tableau Encyclo- 

 pedique, and in La Cepede, [Hist, des Poissons, Tome IV. 

 page 597,) are so short, that much reliance cannot be placed 

 on what is there stated, although I see nothing very material- 

 ly different in our fish from what is mentioned in the above 

 works. The P. plagium is said to be oblong, but our fish is 

 rather oval, that is to say, is wider than the term oblong would 

 imply. Besides, the Pan has pectoral fins of the singular 

 structure observed in the P. trichodactylus, which derives its 

 name from this circumstance ; nor is it mentioned, that the 

 fins of the P. plagiusa are of so remarkable a structure. 



The Pa?i abounds in the eastern estuaries of the Ganges 

 from Dhaka downwards, and is a delicious small fish, from four 

 to six inches in length. It is nearly of an oval form, very 

 much flattened, and rough on both sides, sweemming on the 

 left, which is white. The upper side is of a brown colour, and 

 marked with many dots, irregular black spots, and five or six 

 transverse short lines falling at right angles on the upper side 

 of the lateral line. 



The head is blunt, small, very short, and covered with scales. 

 At the right angle of the upper lip there is a short blunt 



1 



