174 gangetic fishes Order V. 



edge ; the other five are branched, the last being divided to the 

 root. The hinder fin is nearly triangular. The pectoral fins 

 are low, and each contains about nine rays, of which the first is 

 a very strong prickle, indented behind. The ventral fins are 

 shorter than the pectorals, and near each other ; and each con- 

 tains six rays. The fin behind the vent contains thirteen rays : 

 the three first are simple, and increase gradually in length from 

 the first, which is very short. The tail fin is divided into two 

 lobes nearly equal : it contains about twenty distinct rays. 



11th Species. — Pimelodus cenia. Plate XXXI. Fig. 57. 



A Pimelodus with six tendrils not longer than the head ; with 

 the tail fin divided into two lobes ; with eight rays in the back 

 fin, the prickle in which has smooth edges ; with thirteen rays 

 in the fin behind the vent ; with the sides silvery ; and with 

 the back marked with four black transverse bars. 



This fish, which is about three inches in length, is found in 

 the northern parts of Bengal, where it frequents rivers. It is 

 long in proportion to its breadth, of a compressed form, and 

 slopes with a gentle curve, above and below, from the com- 

 mencement of the first back fin to both extremities. The gene- 

 ral colour is silver, with some dusky on the back, and the bars 

 descending to the lateral lines. The end of the tail is black ; 

 and the first fin of the back, and that of the tail, are stained 

 with the same colour. The eyes are silver-coloured. 



The head is much shorter,'and no wider, than the body, and 

 slopes very suddenly from the nostrils to the extremity. On the 

 nape is a bony plate, which sends seven ridges diverging from 

 thence as a centre : the two foremost run forward near each 

 other between the eyes ; two short ones run toward each side ; 

 and the seventh runs to the back fin. The two tendrils proceed- 

 ing from the upper jaw are as long as the head, flattened, and 



