72 INDIAN FRESH- WATER FISHES. 



Origin of dorsal fin midway between the base of 

 the last anal ray and the end of the snout. 



Dr. Day identifies this fish with Gobio isurus, 

 M'CL, from Upper Assam. It does not, however, 

 agree with M'Clelland's description. 



GENUS DISCOGNATHUS. 



These are small fishes living in rapid streams, 

 among and under the stones. The lower lip is formed 

 into a horny disk with free margins and is said to be 

 used as a sucker for the purpose of clinging to the 

 rocks. It certainly does assist it in holding on, but I 

 should be inclined to doubt in this and other similar 

 cases, the action of any suctorial power such as is pos- 

 sessed by the lamprey. One thing to be remembered 

 is that in these rapid streams the rocks are invariably 

 covered with a coating of slimy vegetable matter, on 

 which these fishes seem to feed, but which would pre- 

 vent any sucker apparatus from taking a hold of the 

 stone, at least I should imagine so. 



The pectoral and ventral fins are broad and thick 

 and placed horizontally. By these arrangements these 

 fish are able to cling firmly to the surface of the 

 stones, even in a considerably strong current. Bar- 

 bels 2 or 4. If 2, the upper pair are absent. 



I was struck with an ingenious method of capturing 

 these fish employed in the Central Provinces. The 

 water was clear and shallow and numbers of these 

 little fish could be seen, but it would have been a 

 vain attempt to throw a net over them, as they would 



