ON ICHTHYOLOGY IN GENERAL. / 



fresh-water fishes of the Indian Peninsular is the 

 geographical distribution of species and groups. 

 India affords a splendid example of a well defined 

 region. The great range of the Himalaya cuts it 

 off most completely from the rest of Asia, and the 

 sea being the boundary on almost every other side, 

 it is manifest that no fresh-water species, as such, can 

 at the present time have communication with other 

 countries. Hence very few truly fresh-water species 

 that are found in India occur in other countries ; a 

 few only extend to Burmah and the Malay Archipe- 

 lago on the one side, or to Afghanistan on the other ; 

 one species, frequenting mountain streams, is found 

 as far west as Syria. This subject will be further 

 discussed when describing the Genera and Species in 

 detail. 



