170 MADRAS FISHERIES BULLETIN VOL. XI, 



the lower usually with a knob above the symphysis, and an 

 emargination to receive it in the upper jaw. Barbels four, two or 

 none : occasionally very rudimentary ones are present. Pharyngeal 

 teeth in two or three rows, hooked. Dorsal fin without osseous 

 ray, of moderate length, inserted posteriorly to the ventrals, some- 

 times e}<tending to above the anal, which latter is somewhat 

 elongated. Scales of moderate or small size. Lateral line concave, 

 continued on the middle or lower half of the caudal or incomplete 

 or absent. Gill rakers very short or even absent. 



Geographical distribution. — India, Ceylon, Burma, Malay Archi- 

 pelago : also found in the Nile and East Africa. 

 Small species best. 



Genus-Ha/yhc/iiliis. 



Descriptio/i of genus. — Body somewhat elongated and compressed. 

 Upper surface of head and nape broad and depressed. Teeth 

 villiform in the jaws, present or absent in the palate. Dorsal fin 

 short, commencing behind the origin of anal, which latter has an 

 elongated base. Scales cycloid and of medium size. Lateral line 

 absent. A white occipital spot invariably present. 



Noth;. — This occipital spot is under control and if the small fish is frightened <jr for 

 other reasons it can render it invisible. 



Geographical distribution. — India to the Malay Archipelago and 

 beyond, tropical Africa, Madagascar and islands in the Indian 

 Ocean : also temperate and tropical America. 

 All species good. 



Genwi-Barbus. 



Description of ^r;///.<^.— Mouth arched and anterior or inferior. 

 Jaws closely invested by the lips, which may have leathery lobes 

 but no horny covering. Barbels four: or two: or none. Eyes 

 without adipose lids. Pharyngeal teeth. Dorsal fin rather short, 

 commencing nearly opposite the root of the ventral : its last 

 undivided ray being eitlier ossified and serrated or entire or arti- 

 culated and not osseous: and ratlier short in some species its 

 second ray ossified or its last undivided ray may even be serrated. 

 Scales large, of moderate or small size, anal scales not enlarged. 

 Lateral line may be complete or incomplete, when the former it is 

 continued to opposite the centre of the base of the caudal fin. 



Geographical distribution. — Throughout Europe, Asia and Africa. 

 The small species of this extensive genus are most valuable 

 larvae destroyers. 



