190 gangetic fishes. Order V. 



straight along the middle of the side. The vent is near the 

 middle. 



The first ray of the foremost fin of the back is a strong blunt 

 prickle, rough, but not indented on the foreside. The hinder 

 fin is small and scabrous. The pectoral fins are low, and each 

 contains about seven rays, the first of which is a very strong 

 prickle, indented on both sides. Each ventral fin contains six 

 rays, and that of the tail about thirteen. 



22d Species. — Pimelodus hara. 



A Pimelodus with the end of the tail fin like a crescent ; with 

 eight tendrils, of which two are a little longer than the head ; 

 with an opaque scabrous brown clouded body, and some trans- 

 parent spots on the fins ; with ten rays in the fin behind the 

 vent ; and with seven in the foremost on the back. 



This fish I found in the river Kosi. It is an ugly creature, 

 of little or no value, and seldom exceeds three inches in 

 length. The body is conical, of a lurid brown colour, with a 

 copper gloss, and is clouded with several irregular black marks. 

 The fins are of a similar colour, but have some parts transpa- 

 rent, somewhat similar to what occurs in the wings of certain 

 moths. The four upper tendrils have numerous black rings. 



The head is large, depressed, and blunt. It is covered by 

 bony plates, with various ridges and furrows, and the largest of 

 these plates is deeply divided into three narrow portions, which 

 run along the back almost to the fin, and parallel to each other. 

 The two tendrils between the nostrils, and the four under the 

 chin, are very short ; the two from the upper jaw are longer 

 than the head, and near the root have a short membrane from 

 the hinder edge. The mouth is below, and considerably be- 

 hind the extremity of the nose, and is of moderate size. The 

 lips are fleshy. The only teeth consist in a roughness on each 



