INDIAN CYPRINID#. 955 
50. It would be too much to expect from the materials of one zoo- 
logical province to demonstrate satisfactorily all the properties of natural 
groups in the minor divisions of this family. That its typical and sub- 
typical groups are circular is plain enough, from the diminution in the 
length of the intestinal canal we experience in passing from the Cirrhins 
to the Barbels; and again, from the Barbels through the Gonorhynchs to 
the Gudgeons that canal becomes longer, indicating an union between the 
latter, and the group from which we set out. 
The same thing is observed in passing from the Systoms through 
the Opsarions, Perilamps, and Leuciscs; a tendency between the former and 
latter to unite is indicated, thus forming the sub-typical group (Sarcoborine ) 
into a circle. 
A similar thing may be seen in the aberrant group (Apalopterine) in 
which the Schisture form one extremity, and the Platycara the other; the 
intermediate space being occupied with the Peciliane, Psilorhynchi, and true 
Loaches. The entire caudal of the former points out their relation to Codztis 
prop., but until analysis be extended to all known species, European and 
American, the attempt to reduce the smaller groups to any thing like pre- 
cision would be difficult and uncertain, from the greater chance there is of the 
series being less complete than in the higher groups, of which we might 
always hope to possess at least a specimen of each genus. I shall therefore 
content myself with having submitted the preceding tabular view of the 
principal group, referring to the elucidation of genera for further details, 
in the confident expectation that what has already been demonstrated will in- 
duce naturalists to investigate the subject from the materials of other countries 
as well as of this. 
We are far from being prepared to point out the most characteristic 
types even of our Indian groups of this family. Indeed there may yet 
