FAMILY, V— CYPRINID^. 567 



Gohio curmtica, Cuv. and Val. xvi, p. 317. 



Gobio curmuca and Canarensis, Jerdon, M. J. L. and Sc. 1849, p. 306. 



Barhus curmuca. Day,* P. Z. S. 1873, p. 707. 



B. iii, D. 12 (I), P. 16, V. 9, A. 8 (|), C. 18, L. 1. 41, L. tr. 8/7. 



Length of head 5, of caudal 4j, height of body 5 in the total length. Eyes — diameter 4j in the length 

 of the head, \\ diameters from the end of the snout, and also apart. Snout conical, head compressed, inter- 

 orbital space transversely concave. Dorsal profile more convex than that of the abdomen. In adults a band of 

 open pores goes from the preorbital along the cheek. Barbels — two maxillary pairs, the lovrer as long as the 

 eye, the upper 1/2 as long. Fins — dorsal as high as the body, its upper edge concave, it arises anterior to the 

 insertion of the ventral, and rather nearer the snout than to the base of the caudal fin, its last undivided ray 

 weak and articulated. Lateral-line — complete, 3^ rows between it and the base of the ventral fin : 15 rows 

 anterior to the dorsal fin. Caudal deeply forked, its lobes pointed. Free portion of the tail as long as high. 

 Colours — silvery, lightest on the sides and beneath : tips of the caudal blackish. In the young, the middle third 

 of the caudal is orange, and it is tipped with black. 



Habitat. — Western ghauts of India, attaining to at least 4 feet in length. Jerdon obtained it from 

 Palghaut and Ai-riacode in South Malabar. 



21. Barbus lithopidos, Plate CXXXVIII, fig. 2. 



Day, Proceedings Zoological Society, 1873, p. 708. 

 Kxiri meen, Canarese. 



B. iii, D. 12 (f), P. 15, V. 10, A. 8 (|), C. 19, L. 1. 38-39, L. tr. 7/7. 



Length of head 5f to 65, of caudal 4, height of body 4| in the total length. Eyes — 3| to 4j diameters 

 in length of head, 1 to 1^ diameters from end of snout, and IJ apart. Body compressed, dorsal and abdominal 

 profiles equally and moderately convex. Interorbital space somewhat convex. Upper jaw slightly the longer : 

 lower labial fold interrupted : a thiu cartilaginous covering internally to either jaw. Large examples have 

 pores on the preorbital. Barbels — both pairs thin, and about as long as the orbit. Fins — dorsal high in front, 

 equalling the height of the body, its upper edge concave, the origin of the fin is anterior to the insertion of the 

 ventral, and midway between the end of the snout and the base of the caudal fin, its last undivided ray weak 

 and articulated. Pectoral and ventral of equal length, and as long as the head. Caudal very deeply forked. 

 Lateral-line — complete, 4 rows of scales between it and base of ventral fin : 14 rows before the dorsal. 

 Free portion of the tail as high at its base as it is long. Colours — slaty, as are the fins, having theii" outer rays 

 whitish. Pectoral yellowish, tail greenish. Adults are more yellow, with a gray band behind the opercle, and 

 some of the scales scarlet. 



Habitat. — South Canara, where it is not uncommon in the rivers, and attains 2 feet in length. The 

 specimen figured is 7'4 inches long. 



22. Barbus Thomassi, Plate CXXXVII, fig. 5. 

 Day, Proceedings Zool. Soc. 1873, p. 707. 

 Kem-pu-jjer-ru-wul, Canarese (Red Mahaseer). 



B. iii, D. 12-13 (V), P- 1", V. 10, A. 8 (|), C. 19, L. 1. 31-34, L. tr. 6/6. 



Length of head 5| to G\, of caudal 3| to 4j, height of body 4 to 4^ in the total length. .Eyes— high up, 

 diameter 3J to 4 in the length of head, li diameters from the end of snout, and also apart. Dorsal profile 

 about equally convex with that of the abdomen. Interorbital space slightly convex. Snout rather pointed : 

 upper jaw the longer : lower labial fold inten-upted. Height of head equals its length excluding the snout. 

 Barbels — thin, the maxillary not so long as the eye, the rostral pair shorter. Fins — dorsal high anteriorly, 

 equalling the height of the body, its origin is anterior to the insertion of the ventral, and midway between the 

 end of the snout and the base of the caudal fin : its upper edge very concave, and its last undivided ray weak 

 and articulated. Pectoral and ventral of equal length, and 4/5 as long as the head : caudal deeply forked, the 

 upper lobe the longer. Lateral-line — complete, 2\ rows of scales between it and the base of the ventral fin : 12 

 rows anterior to the dorsal. Free portion of the tail as high at its base as it is long. Colours — silvery along 

 the back, each scale with a red lunule : dorsal and caudal fins of a lake colour, the last being usually edged with 

 black. Ventral and anal also lake colour, stained with grayish-black. Most of the scales with a dark base. 



Habitat. — South Canara, attaining at least 3^ feet in length. I have named the species after Mr. H. S. 

 Thomas, M.C.S., who first brought the fish to my notice. The specimen figured is 9'5 inches in length. 



128. 



23. Barbus spinulosus. 

 McClelland, Cal. Journ. Nat. Hist. p. 280, pi. 21, f. 3 ; Bleeker, Beng. p. 60 ; Gunther, Catal. vii, 



* Since the above was m type, Captain Beavan's "Fresh-water Fishes of India," with the list of species revised hy Dr. Giinther, 

 has come under my notice. It is suggested that Barhus curmuca (II. B.) Day, from Malabar, may be a local variety of Barhus cmmucay 

 Beavan and Gunther. The tigure of their fish is given, and represents B. Uolus, not B. curmuca. The example seems to have come from 

 the Central Provinces where B. Icolus exists, hut B. curmuca is not found. 



