260 INDIAN CYPRINIDZ. 
occur; and it is in this that the intelligence of the naturalist may be best and 
most profitably displayed during his journies in new countries. 
53. The following tabular view of the distribution of Cyprinide, though 
avowedly imperfect, will serve to show how the leading groups are generally 
dispersed. Cirrhins, for instance, appear to be peculiar to India, or at least to 
the tropical parts of Asia, and the Catastoms to America; while both are 
represented in Europe by the true Carps. From the number of Gangetic 
species, the Barbels like the Cirrhins would seem to have their metropolis 
in India, from whence the genus is extended over the Caspian Sea, and 
the Nile into Europe. 
The Gonorhynchs would also seem, as a group, to be natives of the 
East, one species only having been foundin South Africa, none in Europe, 
and eleven in India. 
The greater part of the Sarcoborine are probably also Eastern fishes, 
with the exception of the Breams and Lencises, although some of the European 
forms set down under the latter genera may be found to belong either to 
the Perilamps or Opsarions. 
The small sub-genera of Pecilia appear to be equally distributed in 
all parts of the world, one having been already found in Africa, two species 
in India, where a few more may be expected, seven species in America, 
and seven in Europe; but in every case the species of one continent have 
been found to be distinct from those of another. 
The Loaches (Cobitis prop. Lin.) afford another instance of the con- 
centration of numerous species in India, while three only are found in 
Europe, and none whatever in America. The annexed table exhibits the 
general distribution of the family. 
