262 gangetic fishes. Order V. 



4th Species. — Cyprinus phulo. 



A Cyprinus of the Chela kind, with eight rays on each ven- 

 tral fin ; with twenty in that behind the vent ; and with nine 

 in that of the back. 



The Phulo (Phul chela) is found in the rivers and ponds of 

 the north-eastern parts of Bengal, grows to about three inches 

 long, and is little valued. It is more prominent on the lower 

 edge than above, where it is green, with silver coloured sides. 

 The fins of the tail and behind the vent are tinged with yellow. 



The head is oval, and a little sharpish. The mouth is small, 

 and opens horizontally. The jaws protrude in opening, and 

 have no lips, but, in place of the upper, are two very minute 

 bones. The upper jaw is rather the longest ; the under one is 

 blunt. Each nostril has only one circular opening near the eye. 

 The eyes are circular. The gill-covers do not conceal their 

 membranes. 



The back is nearly straight, with a blunt edge. The belly is 

 prominent and arched. On each side are two lateral lines ; one 

 high up, and straight, the other bent downward parallel to the 

 edge of the belly. Above each pectoral and ventral fin is a 

 scale-like appendant. The scales are minute. 



The back fin slopes behind ; the first of its rays is very short, 

 and, together with the second, is undivided ; the others are 

 branched, the last being considerably longer than that next to 

 it. The pectoral fins are low, and longer than the head, and each 

 contains eleven rays. The ventral fins are very short. The 

 first ray of the fin behind the vent is short, and, with the two 

 next, is undivided, the others being branched. The fin of the 

 tail is divided into two lobes, of which the under is the 

 longest ; and it has eighteen distinct rays, besides some short 

 compacted ones on each side. 



