Polynemus. gangetic fishes. 227 



The number of prickles in the first fin of the back, and the 

 singular termination of the lateral line, would have induced me 

 to suppose, that this is the Polynemus lineatus of La Cepede, 

 (Hist, des Poissons, Tome V. page 412,) but the want of the 

 longitudinal stripes on the sides lead me to suspect, that it 

 may rather be his Polynemus Emoi, the P. plebeius of Gmelin, 

 Bonnaterre, (Tabl. Encycl. page 183, PL LXXIV. Fig. 309,) 

 and Bloch, (Ichth. Tome XII. page 15, PI. CCCC.) although 

 the last author does not represent the singular termination of 

 the lateral line, and reckons only ten rays in the fin behind 

 the vent. 



The Maga booshee of Russell (Indian Fishes, Vol. II. No. 

 184) has certainly a strong resemblance to the Sele of the 

 Ganges ; but it has eight prickles in the first, and fifteen rays 

 in the second fin of the back, and two fins behind the vent. 



According to Bloch, the Polynemus plebeius is by the Eng- 

 lish called King-Fish, a name with which I am quite unac- 

 quainted ; and it is alleged to be one of the best fishes found 

 near Tranquebar. Our Sele is no doubt a light nourishing- 

 food, like most of the fishes which I have called Bola, but it is 

 inferior to many of them in flavour. It is common in the 

 estuaries of the Ganges, and is often found weighing from 

 twenty to twenty-four pounds. 



The Sele is of a compressed long form, more prominent be- 

 low than above. The colour of the back and upper fins is X 

 bluish, of the sides and belly silver. The eyes are silver co- • 

 loured. 



The head is rather blunt, and compressed. The jaws do not 

 protrude in opening; the upper is the longest. In each are crowd- 

 ed numerous small teeth. I did not examine the palate. The nose 

 is diaphanous. The nostrils are in the middle, between the eye 

 and the end of the nose, are of unequal size, and have no co- 



