INDIAN CYPRINID#. 245 
44, The consideration of the third or aberrant group in Cyprinide 
involves some points which will not be so clear to those who have not 
studied the principles of natural classification. This group should possess 
three types, and these should be so related as to form a circle of affinities 
among themselves. This property has suggested the following proposition 
to Mr. Swainson, which tends to reconcile some diversity of opinion that 
formerly prevailed as to the number of primary types—‘ The primary 
circular divisions of every group are three actually, or five apparently.” The 
three aberrant types are named by Mr. Vigors (Lin. Transac. vol. 14) from the 
corresponding groups in ornithology, natatorial, suctorial, and rasorial.* The 
third type I find to be represented by the Loaches, but before we enter into 
a consideration of that part of the subject, it is necessary to point out the two 
first types which I have already only alluded to; this I must do by entering 
into more particulars than may seem to be necessary. 
45. Buchanan in defining his ninth division of the old genus Cyprinus 
which is composed of Gonorhynchs, as I have already pointed out, gave 
them the barbarous name of Garra, and compares their habits to those 
of the Loaches, and observes that they are called Balitora, or sand-dig- 
gers, by the natives; a name I may observe which in Assam, and I 
presume also in Bengal, is applied to Loaches only. Indeed the Gonor- 
hynchs, or Garra of Buchanan are peculiar to mountains, from whence they 
are driven down during floods, and do not extend beyond the rapids that 
skirt their base, so that they ean scarcely be said to be entitled to any Bengal 
name. In this group Mr. Gray detected a new genus, to which I wish he 
had given a more appropriate name than Balitora; for independently of the 
* As these terms have been applied conditionally by Mr. Swainson to Mammalia, I need 
make no apology for following the example of so good an authority in applying them to 
fishes. Indeed I have been guided entirely by the views of Mr. Macleay, as exhibited in the 
Linnean Transactions, and the works of Mr. Swainson from beginning to end of this paper. 
I 
