Silurus. GANGETIC FISHES. 155 



over the whole fish is spread a livid hue, which rapidly in- 

 creases after it is taken out of the water, and soon covers the 

 whole. 



The head is short, blunt, flattened, and wider than the body. 

 The upper tendrils arise from the middle of the upper jaw : the 

 under ones from the throat, and these are shorter than the 

 head. The mouth is immense, and extends straight back from 

 the end of the nose to behind the eyes. The under jaw is ra- 

 ther the longest. The lips are scanty. The teeth in both jaws, 

 and in a line parallel to each side of the upper on the palate, 

 are crowded in great numbers, sharp, and reflected. The tongue 

 is tied down, smooth, cartilaginous, and blunt. The apertures 

 of the nostrils are round, and placed in a hollow line in the 

 middle between the eyes and jaw. The eyes are high and small, 

 with circular pupils. Each gill-cover consists of one rounded 

 plate, which leaves exposed a thick membrane, containing nine- 

 teen rays. On the throat is a slit. 



The lateral line is arched before, runs high along the side, 

 and behind is smooth and porous. The vent is before the mid- 

 dle. The tail ends in a notch. 



The fin of the back is indented on the edge, and contains five 

 soft rays, diminishing rapidly in length from the first, which is 

 undivided, and smooth on the edges, but jointed. The pectoral 

 fins, which are short, low, and sharp above, have each fifteen 

 soft jointed rays, of which the first, and perhaps the last, are un- 

 divided. The ventral fins are very small, and nearly approxi- 

 mated ; and each has ten soft rays, of which the first is undi- 

 vided. The fin behind the vent is rounded behind, and quite 

 distinct from that of the tail, although it reaches very near it. 

 The number of its rays, all nearly equal in length, is eighty-six, 

 of which the first and second are undivided, and short. The 

 tail fin is divided into two unequal lobes, the upper being long- 



