INDIAN CYPRINID£. 233 
to distinguish a natural group without some more general reference to 
habits and structure. Not having been successful, I am obliged to resort to 
another arrangement which appears to be more natural, and at the same 
time equally obvious; the caudal of the one sub-genus ( Cobitis propria) being 
entire, and that of the other (Schistura) bifid, or divided into two lobes 
as in the ordinary Cyprins. Colour is here a no less important guide than 
we have found it to be in Sarcoborine. Green disposed in bars and zones 
crossing the body characterises all the Schisture except a single species 
(Botia grandis, Gray) in which the colour is green, with oblong light 
yellow spots, or rather short interrupted streaks, irregularly disposed in all 
directions. 
The true Loaches (Cobitis prop.) on the contrary are all brown, inclining 
in different species to red or yellow, disposed in nebulous blotches or obscure 
bars having a transverse tendency. 
27. The structure of the digestive organs in the Loaches and Schisture 
does not appear to be very different, but in the latter the intestine seems 
to be somewhat longer than in the former, exceeding in the one genus the 
length of the body, while in the other it falls short of this. In both, the 
stomach is a small lunate sack placed cross-wise with regard to the body, with 
both orifices in the front, thus differing in this peculiarity from all other 
Cyprinide that Ihave examined. The mouth is small, and placed in the lower 
surface of the head, and surrounded by minute cirri. Besides the difference in 
the caudal fins, length of intestine, and colour in the two sub-genera of 
Cobitine, the body in Schistura is often arched above and below, and com- 
pressed the same as in Cirrhinus and the generality of Cyprins, but in Codztis 
propria or true Loaches, it is almost cylindrical, and generally very long. Some 
of the Schisture are possessed of an air vessel placed as usual in the upper 
part of the abdomen, of an oval shape, and divided into two lateral cells by a 
F 
