Atherina. gangetic fishes. 223 



inch in length, and is common in the Mahananda river. It has 

 the appearance of a Mugil, but wants the most distinguishing 

 character of the ridge in the lower jaw, by which that genus is 

 marked. It is long in proportion to its breadth, slightly com- 

 pressed, and diaphanous, with a dotted back. The belly is of a 

 silver colour. 



The head is oval, of a moderate size, blunt, level above, des- 

 titute of scales, and dotted ; and on the nape has three protu- 

 berances. The mouth descends backward. The jaws protrude 

 in opening, and have no lips. It has no teeth. The eyes are 

 large, and on the sides of the head. The gill-covers are naked 

 and shining. Their membranes contain a few rays, but so slen- 

 der, that I could not ascertain the number. 



The back and belly are rounded transversely. The lateral line 

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

 The scales are so thin, that they are with difficulty discernible. 



The i'ays of the fins are so slender, that I could not exactly 

 ascertain their number. In the fore fin of the back are about 

 four, in the hinder about eight, in each pectoral seven, in each 

 ventral six, and in the fin behind the vent about ten. The ven- 

 trals are half way between the pectorals and vent. The fin of 

 the tail ends in a crescent. 



XIV. Genus. — Polynemus. 



Fishes of the fifth order, with some detached bristle-like rays 

 before each pectoral fin ; with scales on the head ; and with 

 two distinct fins on the back. 



Besides the circumstances mentioned in the generic charac- 

 ter, the following belong, in common, to all the fishes of this 

 genus that I have seen in the Ganges. 



Although they are not without a resemblance to the genus 

 Mugil, the fishes in the genus Polynemus have a much greater 



