Cobitis. GANGETIC FISHES. 351 



rays. In the anal fin are eight rays, of which the first is short, 

 and united to the second, both being undivided ; the others are 

 branched. The tail fin is large, fan-shaped, and rounded be- 

 hind, and contains fifteen distinct rays, besides some shorter. 



2d Species. — Cobitis gongota. 



A Cobitis with two prickles beneath each eye ; with six ten- 

 drils ; with cloud-like marks on the sides ; and with eleven rays 

 in the dorsal, and six in each ventral fin. 



This fish grows to six inches in length, and is found in the 

 rivers of Northern Bengal towards the mountains. The form is 

 slightly compressed. The colour is white on the sides, above 

 clouded with dotted spots, and below silvery. The dorsal and 

 tail fins are transversely striped. The pectoral fins are whitish. 



The head is half oval, sloping below, and narrower than the 

 body. The prickles beneath the eyes are short, strong, and 

 united by a membrane. The tendrils are at equal distances 

 from each other ; four proceed from the upper lip, and two from 

 the corners of the mouth, which is circular. The jaws protrude 

 much in opening. The under lip is reflected at a sharp angle. 

 The nostrils are small, and in the middle between the nose and 

 eyes, which are far back and near each other, and have the 

 longest axis of the pupil vertical. The membranes of the gill- 

 covers are devoid of visible rays. 



The lateral line runs straight above the middle. The scales 

 are small, angular, and adhere firmly. Above each ventral fin 

 is a scale-like appendant. 



The dorsal fin is far back : the first of its rays is minute, and 

 the second short, and both, together with the third, are undivid- 

 ed ; the others are branched, and the last of them divided to the 

 root. The pectoral fins are rounded, and each has ten rays. 

 The ventral fins are smaller than the pectorals. The anal fin, 



