Cobitis. Gangetic fishes. 359 



The Bilhtrio (Bil turl) I found along with the tenth spe- 

 cies, from which it differs scarcely in any thing but in the num- 

 ber of rays which support the fins. Each 'pectoral fin has four- 

 teen rays ; that behind the vent has seven. 



12th Species. — Cobitis corica. 

 A Cobitis with the head unarmed ; with six tendrils ; with 

 the body spotted ; and with nine rays in the dorsal fin. 



The Corica (Khorika) is found in the river Kosi, where it 

 grows to about two inches in length. 



The body is not compressed, but is sharp before, and has a 

 wedge-like tail. The whole is devoid of scales. The upper parts 

 are of a bluish colour, and somewhat diaphanous, with many 

 large spots, composed of black dots. The lower parts are silvery, 

 as are the eyes. 



The head slopes above, and is half oval. Four tendrils pro- 

 ceed from the upper jaw, of which the two in the centre are 

 very minute : the other two proceed from the corners of the 

 mouth. The nostrils are near the eyes, which are far back. The 

 gilUcovers are shining and dotted. Their membranes are half 

 exposed to view ; but their rays, on account of their slender- 

 ness, cannot be exactly numbered. 



On the bach is a longitudinal furrow. The lateral line forms a 

 ridge on the middle of the side. 



The dorsal fin is on the middle of the back : the first of its 

 rays is undivided, and the last divided to the root. The pectoral 

 fins are longer than the head, and sharp above : each has eleven 

 rays, of which the two first are short, and the third very long 

 and undivided. The ventral fins are smaller, and each has seven 

 rays ; in the anal there are six. The caudal fin is divided into 

 two blunt lobes, and has nineteen distinct rays, besides short 

 compacted ones. 



