his work on the fishes of the Ganges, he should certainly have
adopted it in preference to every other. I will first notice
those which appear to be rare, or distinct from any already known,
in most instances giving the native name. The abrota, or phycis
furcatw. fig. 28, a new species of a genus of malacopterygiens
apodes1. The boga, or boops vulgaris, Cuvier; sparus boops, Linnaeus.
The pequeno dourado, fig. 29, a new genus of labroides
approaching to spams'”. The mdrracho, a new species of serranus".
1 Phycis furcatus, B. It has no evident teeth; two dorsal fins, the first short, terminating
in a point; the second extending two-thirds the length of the back, and reaching
almost to the caudal, which is so deeply forked as to appear separated; the anal,
corresponding in form, length, and position to the second dorsal; the pectorals rather
small, with two barbillons beneath each, but more advanced, or nearer the branchial
rays; all these fins are fleshy; and without distinct rays, which are represented by
mere streaks. The species I describe (which was merely sent me to look at, without
the liberty of dissecting) had a barbillon beneath the lower jaw. The head is elevated,
enlarged, and without scales. Its bladder bursts immediately it is taken out of
the water, and rising into the mouth, has often been mistaken for an enormous tongue.
The body is of a silvery lead colour, inclining to brown; the gills and muzzle red; the
iris of the eye yellow; length, 1 foot 8 inches.
m Labeo Sparmdes, B. The pectoral fin is placed so low and distinct from the
branchiee, that it is hard to say whether it is the pectoral or the ventral which is
wanting; the scales of the head are scarcely visible; the dorsal and caudal fins
have the same number of rays and spines as the sparus satpd, but the anal has fourteen
spines, and three branching rays ; the pectorals, five branching rays; all the fins
are of a golden hue, shaded with blackish brown; the top of the head is of a golden
green; the body a light silver gray, with ten golden stripes, the dorsal line running
along the third; the muzzle is silvery; the iris is yellow, and there is a brown rim
around the eye. Labeo, the name of a fish known to the Romans.
n Serranus rufus, B. Its preoperculum is fringed rather than toothed; it has one
sharp spine within, or towards the centre of the operculum ; the whole body is
thickly pQvered with small scales; the dorsal fin has ten spines and thirteen branching
rays, and is red, shaded with a greenish brown; the caudal has nineteen branch-'
ing rays, and is entirely of a greenish brown; the anal, two spines, and nine branching
rays, and of a reddish brown; the ventral brown, with one spine and five branching
rays; the pectorals red, and with sixteen rays; the whole of the body is of
a brilliant red; length fif inches.