Pimelodus. gangetic fishes. 173 



the longest diameter horizontal, while the longest diameter of 

 the pupil is vertical. 



10th Species. — Pimelodus vhiidescens. Plate XL Fig. 56. 



A Pimelodus with six tendrils ; with the tail fin divided into 

 two lobes ; with seven rays in the foremost fin of the back, the 

 prickle having both edges smooth ; with thirteen rays in the 

 fin behind the vent ; with the back reddish-brown, crossed by 

 three green bars ; and with opaque spotless sides. 



This small fish is found in the rivers of the northern parts of 

 Bengal. It is depressed in the fore part, and conical behind. 

 The sides are silver coloured, the belly livid, and the fins of the 

 back and tail spotted. 



The head is very large, depressed, and blunt. On its summit 

 are two longitudinal bony ridges, with a cavity between. The 

 two tendrils, from the sides of the upper jaw, are about as long 

 as the head ; and the four from the chin are somewhat shorter. 

 The mouth, situated a little below and behind the extremity of 

 the nose, is large. The jaws are covered by lips. There are no 

 teeth, except a slight roughness on the jaws. The apertures of 

 each nostril are close to each other, and half way between the 

 eyes and jaw. The eyes are high, of moderate size, and oblong. 

 The gill-covers expose their membranes, each of which contains 

 six very slender rays. Under the throat is a slit. 



On the fore part of the back there are two rough bony plates, 

 the foremost of which is the largest, and behind very deeply di- 

 vided into three lobes. Each shoidder-bone sends a double 

 naked process above the pectoral fin. The lateral line is 

 straight, and high on the side. The vent is behind the middle. 



The foremost fin of the back contains seven rays, of which 

 the first is a very short thick bone; the second is a strong 

 sharp prickle, obliquely striated, but not indented on either 



