6th Species.—Ophiocephalus gachua {Channa gachua}. Plate XXI. (Fig. 21)

An ophiocephalus with about
thirty-six rays in the fin of the back, and
five in each ventral;
and with irregular dusky belts across the back.

This fish, which sometimes grows to a foot{30cm} in length,
but seldom exceeds a span{22cm},
is very common in the ponds and ditches of Bengal,
and is one of those which are supposed to fall with the rain from heaven.
In fact, with the first heavy showers of the season,
it has been often seen leaping and wriggling among the grass;
and both by natives and many Europeans is supposed to have fallen with the rain.
I have, how ever, no doubt, that the animal, when thus discovered, has been in search of a more commodious abode. During the dry season it has suffered much from being pent up in half putrid stagnant pools, so that, when the first heavy rains fall, it is eager to enjoy the grateful supply of fresh-water, and wriggles among the moist grass in search of more room, and of the food, which must have been nearly exhausted in the pools that it formerly
occupied.

The body above is of a greenish colour,
and below of a dirty white.
Several dark belts run across the back to the lateral lines, descending obliquely forward.
The throat and insertions of the pectoral fins are bluish.
The fins of the back and tail are greenish, edged first with black, and then with dirty red.
The pectorals are pale brick colour, with several rows of blue spots. }
The anal fin is of a dirty pale bluish-green, edged with black, and then with white.
The head is wider than the body.
The upper jaw, in opening, is little, if at all, protruded.
The only long teeth are in the fore part of the upper jaw.
The tongue is rather sharp.
The gums project behind the teeth, nor has the palate any of these organs.\ The eyes are placed forward.
The gill-covers end in a sharpish point, and each of their membranes contains five rays.
The shoulders ascend a little from the fin.
From the shoulders the lateral lines are distinct, and consist on each scale of three small elevated points with a line interposed.
The vent is rather before the middle. The scales are large, imbricated, and striated.
The fin on the back is rounded behind, and its rays at the top are divided into two or more branches.
Each of the pectoral fins contains fifteen divided rays, and each of the ventrals five.
The anal fin contains about twenty-two divided at the tops, and
that of the tail has about twelve.