SilurUS. GANGETIC FISHES. 153 



side of the palate, contiguous to the jaw. The rays in the 

 membrane of each gill-cover are about thirteen. 



The first ray of the back fin is almost twice as long as any of 

 the others. The first ray of each pectoral fin is a strong 

 prickle, indented on the hinder edge. The rays in the vent fin 

 are about sixty-seven in number, but I am not satisfied that 

 this was exactly determined. 



6th Species. — Silueus pabo. Plate 33?-B.- Fig. 48. *" 



A silurus with the fin of the tail divided into two lobes, with 

 four tendrils all shorter than the head, and with seventy-three 

 rays in the fin of the vent. 



This fish I found in the Brahmaputra river, towards Asam. 

 It differs more from the Pabda than the intermediate species ; 

 but still a full description will be unnecessary. Above it is of 

 a purple colour, with a green gloss ; below the colour is silver, 

 with a purple gloss. The belly is of a livid red. The head and 

 sides are dotted with black. 



The upper tendrils are close to the middle of the upper jaw, 

 and reach only to the eye. There are two small bones in the 

 upper lip. On the palate are six bones covered with teeth, two 

 adjacent to the jaw, and four at the throat. The tongue wants 

 the transverse marks, which that of the Pabda has. The gill- 

 covers are rounded behind, and their membranes contain each 

 about thirteen rays. There is no slit under the throat. 



The back slopes with a considerable convexity. The lateral 

 line forms an arch above the pectoral fin. The end of the tail 

 is bent downward. 



In the back fin are five rays, and sixteen in each pectoral, 

 the hind part of the prickle being indented on the edge, while 

 it is much stronger than in the Pabda ,• but, as in that fish, it ter- 

 minates in a substance like whalebone. Each ventral fin con- 



u 



