PlotosilS. GANGETIC FISHES. 143 



than the Canius. Russell again mentions, that the lngellee on 

 each side has three stripes on a copper-coloured ground, the 

 prickle of the back fin indented, and the tendrils shorter by 

 one half than the head. I am therefore inclined to believe, that 

 there are three species of this genus, which is exceedingly well 

 marked, and totally different in its habits from the Platystacus, 

 although very nearly allied to the three fishes that will be next 

 described. 



The Canius (Kani magur) is found in the rivers of the 

 southern parts of Bengal ; and, although a very ugly animal, 

 and rejected by Europeans, is considered by the natives as ex- 

 cellent food. It is often found three feet long, and sometimes 

 between four and five. It is a long fish, with somewhat of the 

 eel form, although not quite so flexible, and is of a lurid uni- 

 form dark olive colour, with a tinge of violet. It is quite 

 smooth, slippery, and devoid of scales. 



The head is long, flattened, rather wider than the body, very 

 blunt, and smooth. Round the mouth are eight awl-shaped 

 tendrils, of which the six uppermost are nearly the length of 

 the head, and the two under the chin are a little shorter. The 

 mouth is of a moderate size, and the upper jaw is the longest. 

 The lips are fleshy. The foremost aperture of each nostril is 

 adjacent to the upper lip, and tubular ; and the hinder, in the 

 middle between the eyes and nose, is oblong. The eyes, 

 placed on the crown of the head at a distance from each other, 

 are rather small, and of an oblong form. 



The fore part of each lateral line ascends a little on the 

 shoulder. The vent is near the middle. The trunk is short 

 and rounded ; the tail is compressed, ending in a sharp point. 



The six Jlns are covered with so thick a skin, that the num- 

 ber of rays which each contains could not be ascertained. The 

 fore fin of the back, placed on the middle of the trunk, is very 



