Mugil. GANGETIC FISHES. 217 



The fin of the tail is rather longer above than below. It con- 

 tains fourteen distinct rajs, besides some compacted ones on 

 each side. 



2d Species. — Mugil cascasia. 

 A Mugil with eight rays in the second fin of the back ; with 

 two prickles and eight soft rays in that behind the vent ; with 

 the tail fin ending in a crescent ; with two apertures in each 

 nostril ; with the gill-covers rounded ; with a sloping head ; 

 and without stripes on the sides, which are scabrous. 



This fish I found in the northern rivers of Bengal. It 

 is usually three or four inches long, and considered as of 

 little value for eating. It is very nearly allied to the Parsia, 

 but is much longer in proportion to its height, and slopes gra- 

 dually toward both head and tail from the beginning of the 

 foremost fin on the back. It is rough to the feel, green on 

 the upper, and silver coloured on the lower parts, with a faint 

 yellowish spot on each side at the pectoral and tail fins. 



The head is oval, and slopes forward. The mouth passes di- 

 rectly backward. The jaws are nearly equal in length, and 

 smooth. The upper one protrudes in opening ; the under one 

 has a notch at the extremity. The apertures of the nostrils are 

 small. The eyes are slightly convex, and rather small. The 

 gill-covers conceal only a part of their membranes, each of which 

 has about three rays. 



There is no proper lateral line, although a longitudinal ridge 

 on the centre of many of the scales gives an appearance of se- 

 veral. The scales are circular, adhere firmly, are of moderate 

 size, and are indented on the edge. Towards the edge they 

 are scabrous. 



The foremost fin of the back has four prickles. The first ray 

 of the hinder fin is undivided. The ventral fins are at a dis- 



e e 



