1921.] S. L. HORA : Fishes of the genus Garra. 675 



himself doubted whether the two forms were specifically distinct 

 as on p. 283 (footnote) of the work cited above he remarks of 

 G. br achy pt ems, — "It also agrees with that species (G. J'z</'ec?//Ms) 

 in the form of its fins ; the presence of two ver}- minute cirri 

 being my chief reason for separating them, T have not thought it 

 necessary to give a figure." Having collected a large number of 

 examples of this species, I do not find myself justified in accept- 

 ing the two forms as distinct species. The barbels are, undoubt- 

 edly, very minute and are apt to be overlooked. As a matter 

 of fact there are four short barbels, of which McClelland could see 

 only two in certain individuals. Since the publication of Giinther's 

 Catalogue (1868) both these species have been placed under the 

 synonymy of G. lanita \)y several ichthyologists without com- 

 ment. vSonie of my specimens, though none of them is more than 

 2 inches in length, are ripe females as they have been found on 

 dissection to contain eggs. This species is a characteristic hill- 

 stream form. 



The species is readily distinguished by its small size, 

 depressed body and head and almost straight profile. The length 

 of the head is contained 4' 5-5 times, the depth of the bod}' 

 near the origin of the dorsal fin 5"3-6-g times in the length of 

 the fish including the caudal fin. The head is i'2 times as 

 long as broad. The eyes are dorso-lateral and are situated in 

 the middle of the head ; their upper margin is in line with the 

 dorsal profile of the head. There are two pairs of minute barbels. 

 The mouth is provided with well-developed labial folds and the 

 mental disc is well-marked. There are rows of open pores on the 

 snout, one extending from the antero-inferior margin of the eye to 

 its tip and another from behind the disc on the under surface, 

 coming upwards and backwards and ultimately continued along 

 the lateral line. The origin of the dorsal fin is slightly nearer to 

 the base of the caudal than to the tip of the snout ; it contains 

 six branched rays besides one or two that are not branched. The 

 pectorals are horizontal and rounded, they are shorter than the 

 length of the head and are widely separated from the ventrals. 

 Both the paired fins are horizontally placed and are provided 

 with muscles on the under surface of some of their outer rays. 

 The ventrals extend considerably beyond the anus. The lateral 

 line is straight and runs nearer to the dorsal than to the ventral 

 surface. There are 32-34 scales along the lateral line and 9 

 longitudinal series of scales between the bases of the dorsal and 

 ventral fins. The ventral surface is naked. 



The air-bladder is normal in form In a specimen 30 mm. 

 long, the following are the measurements of the bladder. 



Length of anterior chamber ... ... 2-2 mm 



" ■' posterior ,, .. . . . ,30 ,, 



(ireatcst diameter of anterior chamber ... 2*5 



,, ,, posterior ,. i'2 



The colour is variable; generally it is black on the upper 

 surface and sides of the bodv and white below The fins are all 



