Pimelodus. gangetic fishes. 163 



but, on account of their slenderness, their number cannot be 

 ascertained. There is no slit under the throat. The nostrils 

 and teeth are too minute for observation. 



The shoulder-blades are naked. 



The foremost back fin contains eight rays, of which the first 

 is a smooth-edged prickle. The hinder fin is dotted. The 

 prickle of each pectoral fin is indented behind. Each ventral 

 has six rays, and the vent fin has seventeen. The fin of the 

 tail is divided into two lobes. 



3d Species. — Pimelodus pangasius. Plate XXXIII. Fig. 52. 



A Pimelodus with four tendrils ; with the tail fin bifid ; and 

 with the prickles of the back fin and pectorals very little long- 

 er than the membrane. 



This fish is common in the estuaries of Bengal, and often 

 grows to three feet in length. It is eaten by all ranks of na- 

 tives that use fish, but is not considered as of the best quality. 

 It is of a lurid appearance) long in proportion to its breadth, 

 and flattened at the sides, and slopes gradually from the begin- 

 ning of the foremost back fin toward both extremities. The 

 colour above is dusky green, and below white, with a purple 

 gloss on the sides. The fins are whitish. 



The head is oval, short, rather wide, a little depressed, and 

 blunt, with a notch on each side of the nose. On each side of 

 its summit is a bony ridge slightly tuberculated. Two of the 

 knobs on each are conspicuous, one at the fore end, and the 

 other opposite to the eye. Two of the tendrils, from the 

 middle of the upper jaw, are nearly as long as the head ; and 

 two still shorter proceed from under the chin. The mouth is 

 moderate, and below the extremity of the nose, and extends 

 straight back. The upper jaw is the longest. The lips cover 

 the jaws. The teeth, both on the jaws and palate, are sharp, 



