350 gangetic fishes. Order V. 



yond the mouth, which is small, and has fleshy lips. The eyes 

 are small, and high on the sides of the head. The gill-covers 

 are flexible, and the apertures are small, or at least of moderate 

 dimensions* There are not above three rays in each membrane 

 of the gill-covers ; and in several species there are either none, 

 or, on account of their slenderness, they are indistinctly visible. 

 The vent is behind the middle. There are seven distinct fins, 

 those on the back and behind the vent being short. 



1st Species. — Cobitis botia. 



A Cobitis with a prickle under each eye ; with six tendrils ; 

 with cloud-like marks on the sides ; and with fourteen rays in 

 the dorsal, and eight in each ventral fin. 



The Botia is found in the rivers of the north-eastern parts of 

 Bengal, and is nearly of the same size and qualities for eating 

 as the Loach. 



The form is compressed, and wedge-shaped. The body is 

 slippery and covered with scales. On each side is a longitudi- 

 nal silver coloured stripe, above which is olive green, clouded 

 with spots of a deeper shade. Below the line is somewhat dia- 

 phanous. The head is reddish, with yellowish gill- covers. 

 The fins are reddish and spotted. 



The head is blunt. The prickle below each eye is strong and 

 undivided. Four of the tendrils proceed from the upper lip, 

 and two from the corners of the mouth. The gill-covers are 

 smooth, and expose part of their membranes, each of which has 

 about three rays ; but they are not to be seen distinctly. 



The scales are small. There is no lateral line. 



The dorsal fin is near the middle : the three first of its ravs 

 are undivided, the second being longer than the first, and 

 shorter than the third ; the others are divided twice into two. 

 The pectoral fins end in a point, and each has about thirteen 



