Clupea. GANGETIC FISHES. 24l 



ring. The snout is diaphanous, the back is of an olive-brown 

 colour, the sides and belly are bright silver. All the fins are dia- 

 phanous, but that of the tail has a tinge of yellow, with a black 

 edge on the upper lobe. The eyes are silver. 



The head is straight, and rather sharp-edged above, and rises 

 upward below. The end of the nose, which is rounded, projects 

 considerably beyond the mouth. Both jaws are indented on 

 their edges, which are sharp ; nor are there any teeth, except 

 those formed thus in the edges of the jaws. Each nostril has 

 one opening close to the eye. The eyes are far forward. The 

 edges of the gill-covers wave in several sinuses. The membrane 

 of each contains about three rays. 



The back slopes gradually from the head to the fin, at which 

 it slopes downward suddenly. The belly is prominent. The 

 tail is long, and, toward the extremity, bends down. The late- 

 ral line is arched slightly upward. 



The first ray of the dorsal fin is very short, and closely join- 

 ed to the second. Each pectoral fin has thirteen rays, of which 

 the first is more than twice the length of the others that are 

 branched. The first ray in each ventral fin is undivided. The 

 fin behind the vent contains from seventy-five to seventy-eight 

 rays, either undivided, or only once forked. The fin of the 

 tail is large, and ends in a crescent. 



3d Species.^ — Clupea xelara. Plate II. Fig. 72. 



A Clupea, with the first ray of each pectoral fin lengthened 

 into a bristle; and with the end of the upper lobe of the tail 

 fin blunt, as if cut across. 



This fish, about the size of a small herring, is found high up 

 in the Ganges, and in most of its larger branches and tributary 

 streams. It is one of those which the Bengalese call Phasa; 

 but I have adopted a name given to it in the Dinajpur district. 



Hh 



