80 INDIAN FRESH- WATER FISHES. 



GENUS LABEO. 



This is also a large genus, containing several fine 

 species, such as the Eoho, which are of considerable 

 importance as an article of food. 



It is essentially a tropical genus, being found only 

 in tropical Africa and the East Indies. 



The mouth is differently formed from that in the 

 genus Barbus. It opens downwards, not forwards, 

 being situated on the lower surface of the snout ; the 

 lips are thick and fleshy, one or both lips having an 

 inner transverse fold, which is covered with a horny 

 substance. 



The barbels are small, either one pair or two, those 

 at the corners of the mouth are more or less hidden 



m a groove. 



The rays of the dorsal fin" vary considerably. Dr. 

 Giinther has divided the Labeos into two genera, 

 according as there are more than twelve rays or less 

 than 13 in the dorsal fin, forming the latter into the 

 genus Tylognathus. 



I lately had brought to me about a dozen specimens 

 of Labeo ricnorhynchus, of these about half had 

 twelve rays (3 + 9), and the remainder thirteen (3 + 10), 

 in the dorsal fin; in all other respects they were 

 similar. As Dr. Giinther himself acknowledges the 

 divison to be an artificial one, it will perhaps be better 

 for our purposes to class them all as Labeo. 



The snout projects over the mouth, and has some- 

 times a lateral lobe, or projection, on each side, in 

 form something similar to the nose of a dog. 



