288 gangetic fishes. Order V. 



gal, but is seldom found farther west, and even in most parts of 

 Behar is unknown. It grows to about three or four feet in 

 length, and is a light wholesome fish, free of bones. The head 

 is very fat and delicious, and the flavour of the whole is excel- 

 lent, when the size is moderate, that is, when the length is from 

 eighteen to twenty-four inches ; but when large it acquires a 

 rank taste. It is a very strong active animal, and often leaps 

 over the seine of the fishermen, on which account, when fish- 

 ing for the Catla, they usually follow the net in canoes, and 

 make a noise by shouting and splashing with their paddles. 



In form, quality, and habits, this fish has a considerable re- 

 semblance to the Carp of Europe, [Cyprinus Carpio,) but it 

 wants the tendrils on the jaws, with which that fish is provided. 

 The Catla is a deep full formed fish, but a good deal compress- 

 ed. The fins are darkish coloured, and no part except the eyes 

 have any tinge of red. 



The head is large, oval, blunt, a little wider than the body, 

 and smooth. The mouth is of a moderate size, and descends 

 obliquely from the extremity of the nose. The jaws are nearly 

 equal in length, and protrude in opening. The lips are smooth 

 and fleshy ; the upper has no bones, and the under is reflected. 

 The palate is smooth. The tongue is blunt, undivided, fleshy, 

 smooth, and tied down through its whole length. The nostrils 

 are high up and very near the eye, which is convex and 

 of a good size, and has a circular pupil. Each gill-cover is 

 rounded behind, and edged by a broad membrane, and consists 

 of three plates. The bones supporting the gills have on the 

 inside a row of slender teeth. 



The scales are large and entire on the edge, and each is sepa- 

 rated into two divisions by a dotted vertical line. The back is 

 more prominent than the belly, and arched, rising before the 

 fin with a slope greater than that of the head. The tail slopes 



