Mr. J. McClelland on Indian Cyprinidae. 115 



prove that the pectorals of Cyprinidae in general, but particu- 

 larly of herbivorous Cyprins, are less complete than those of 

 neighbouring groups, for we are at once struck with the fact 

 on observing the small size of the pectoral fins in all our 

 Pceonomince, and the slenderness of the rays of which they are 

 composed ; while the large clumsy rays of the ventrals, and 

 the strength of these fins, are circumstances that cannot be 

 overlooked, and which, when viewed in comparison with the 

 strong and fully-developed legs of Rasores (34.), supply all that 

 is essential in the analogies between the groups in question. 



38. In the most carnivorous species of Sarcoborince, on 

 the other hand, and especially in some of the Opsarions, as 

 0. polio oous and O. photic ephalus*, remarkable instances are 

 observed of excessive development in the pectoral fins ; and 

 this is always, as far as I have seen, attended with a pro- 

 portionate want of size in the ventrals, which are so slen- 

 der and small in this genus, and their structure so delicate, 

 as to render it hardly possible to conceive that they can 

 be of much use in aiding the movements of the body. 

 Now the widely-cleft mouth or beak, great breadth of wings 

 or pectorals, obsolete ventrals or feet, are common to Opsa- 

 rions and Fissirostres, so that the first would thus appear to 

 be a natatorial type of Sarcoborince, corresponding with that 

 type in the order of perching-birds. To this, however, there 

 is some objection ; for if the Sarcoborince represent the Ferce, 

 the most carnivorous genus of the subfamily (which Opsa- 

 rions would seem to be) ought to represent the Falconidce, in 

 which there is only one genus (Gypaetus) remarkable for 

 short feet and great breadth of wing ; but the cruel habits 

 and voracious appetite of the Opsarions go to establish this 

 last as the true analogy ; this, however, as well as many other 

 points, must remain to be decided by further inquiry. In the 

 mean time we may be justified in the conclusion, that the 

 Ferce among the Mammalia, and the Falconidce among birds, 

 have their representatives among the Cyprinidce, and that the 

 same type in each of the three groups seems to possess cer- 

 tain corresponding characteristics which may distinguish them 

 from all adjoining groups, and that in describing these cha- 

 racters the same terms are as applicable to the one as to the 

 other, which is quite sufficient to prove their corresponding 

 analogies. 



39. It may be objected to by those who have not paid much 

 attention to the subject, that detached comparisons of this 

 nature are of little value ; still they are important, as the 

 means of directing attention to characters that would other- 



* Tab. 47, f. 2, 3. 

 12 



