134 gangetic fishes. Order IV. 



of La Cepede, (Hist, des Poissons, Tome II. p. 344,) as the dif- 

 ferences in the position of the spines on the head, and in the 

 number of rays, would seem to indicate, it has the utmost affi- 

 nity to that fish, which is the Cattionymus indicus of Linnaeus, 

 Bonnaterre, (Tabl. Encycl. p. 44,) and Russell, (Indian Fishes, 

 Vol. I. No. 46.) Bloch was sensible of its belonging to a very 

 different genus from the Cattionymus, and called it Platycephalus 

 spathula, [Ichth. Tome XII. p. 90, Planche CCCCXXIV.) La 

 Cepede was of the same opinion ; but, with his usual desire of 

 appearing new, changed Bloch's name into one more objection- 

 able, and gave it a wrong place in his system ; for, as Dr Rus- 

 sell justly observes, the ventral fins are not placed before, but 

 opposite to the pectorals ; and, although it has an affinity with 

 the Cattionymus Uranoscopus, and Trachinus, as Linnaeus rightly 

 observes, it also strongly resembles the Cottus. It has also 

 some resemblance to the genus Gobius ; and one of its native 

 names signifies that it is a flattened Gobius ; while another that 

 I have adopted denotes its affinity to the next fish that will be 

 described, although that belongs to the order of abdominal 

 fishes. 



The Chaca is a rough long flattened fish, with its tail ending 

 like a wedge. Above it is of a green colour, clouded with broad 

 irregular black bars. Beneath it is whitish. The fins of the 

 back and tail are variegated with black. 



The head is blunt, wedge-shaped, a little wider than the 

 body, horizontal above, much depressed, rough, and covered 

 with scales. Along it run nine ridges, of which that in the 

 midst, after a short interruption, is divided into three at its 

 fore part ; the two next run from above the eyes to the nape ; 

 the two next from the posterior angles of the eyes to the be- 

 ginning of the lateral lines ; and two run from each corner of 

 the mouth to the end of the cheek-bones. Above the anterior 



