Apodal Fishes of Bengal. 195 



consequently equal to half the length of the abdominal cavity ; it con- 

 tains the oesophagus, the heart, and aorta, together with the branchial 

 arteries and veins. 



The abdomen is occupied for the first two-thirds of its length by the 

 stomach and liver; the former in the left, the latter in the right side. 

 The latter third of the cavity is occupied with two oval bodies placed 

 on either side closely connected with the blood-vessels, which I sup- 

 pose to be the kidneys, and the intestine together with the ovarium. I 

 observe no valve or distinct separation between the stomach and intes- 

 tine, but a gradual contraction from the former to the vent ; both organs 

 apparently forming a straight tube with the oesophagus, merely dilated 

 for the stomach, and contracted from thence gradually to the vent. 



These observations must, however, be regarded as a mere cursory 

 statement, intended to shew the general peculiarities of the species, and 

 not be received as an exact description of its structure. 



I have had two live Cuchia by me now for a period of twelve months ; 

 they are still as well as when I first obtained them, though from an 

 ignorance of their proper food, as well as a desire to know how long 

 they are capable of existing without any, they had nothing to eat during 

 that period to within the last few months, when some small fish and 

 shrimps were put alive into the vessel. For some time they appeared 

 to regard the strangers with indifference, when they became suddenly 

 roused from their usual lethargy, and with a few sudden darts de- 

 voured the whole of the shrimps. Some dead shrimps were afterwards 

 introduced, but these as well as small fish both live and dead, the Cuchia 

 evinced no appetite for; so that the prejudice of the natives against 

 the Cuchia, as an article of food, spoken of by Buchanan, is not perhaps 

 owing to the uncleanness of its habits. The Europeans are therefore 

 perfectly right in eating it as an eel, whatever the natives of Bengal 

 may think of the matter. This species seems to be very abundant 

 throughout Bengal, as well as Assam ; and generally, I should suppose 

 in all the slow running streams and estuaries of the plains and coasts 

 of India. 



I have found the number of vertebra in this genus to be about 150. 



PNEUMABRANCHUS LEPROSUS. 



Specific character. — Body uniformly of a pale yellowish white both 

 above and below, with irregular angular spots of various size dispersed 

 here and there over the upper parts of the body. The narrow mem- 



