Pimelodus. gangetic fishes. 175 



joined to the corner, of the mouth by a short membrane : the 

 four proceeding from the chin are very short. The mouth is be- 

 low and behind the extremity of the nose, and is small; and, 

 when it opens, the jaws protrude more than usual in fishes al- 

 lied to this, but only a very little. The middle of the upper 

 jaw has a longitudinal ridge, which is received in a notch of 

 the under one. The lips are fleshy. The teeth are scarcely per- 

 ceptible, and each nostril has its apertures near each other, and 

 in the middle between the eyes and jaw. Both are circular, and 

 the pupils of the eyes are oblong. The eyes are high and for- 

 ward, and are of moderate size. The membrane of each gill- 

 cover is exposed, and contains five rays. There is no slit un- 

 der the throat. 



The back is rounded across, and, before the fin, has a small 

 triangular bony plate. The lateral line runs straight along the 

 middle of the side, which is marked by the separations of the 

 muscles. The vent is near the middle. 



The first fin of the back is far forward, and slopes much be- 

 hind. The first of its rays is a very short bone ; the second 

 is a strong prickle, striated on the sides, but smooth on the 

 edges ; and the others are branched. The second fin is very 

 low, and nearly triangular. The pectoral fins are very low, 

 as long as the head, and sharp above ; each contains nine rays, 

 of which the first is a strong prickle, streaked on the sides, and 

 indented behind. The ventral fins are much smaller than the 

 pectorals, and remote from each other; each contains six 

 rays, of which the first is undivided. The fin behind the vent 

 slopes much backward. The three first of its rays are undi- 

 vided, closely joined, and lengthen gradually from the first, 

 which is very short ; the ten last are branched, and the last of 

 them is split to the bottom. The tail fin is divided into two 

 very sharp equal lobes. 



