228 INDIAN CYPRINIDZ. 
appearance and the form of their fins, the only principle of division hitherto 
adopted in this family, they might be brought into the several sub-genera 
Cyprinus proprius, Cirrhinus, ete. of the Regné Animal. Buchanan, who 
published his Gangetic Fishes cotemporaneously with Cuvier’s system had not 
an opportunity of consulting its divisions, while those of Lacepede, Bloch, 
and previous writers were not reconcilable to Indian species; Buchanan 
therefore formed temporary groups for his own convenience, applicable to 
the local features of the family in this country. The Pungti, like all his 
other groups, were formed according to native opinions of their habits un- 
shackled by artificial views, and being better marked than most genera, 
Buchanan’s Pungti have more or less affinity to each other. 
18. The stomach and intestine of the Systoms are in none of the species 
I have examined more than thrice the length of the body, and the former 
which is thick and fleshy, usually contains the remains of insects. The 
mouth is small, and when opened, the intermaxillaries project so as to form 
a narrow tube,—hence their generic name. 
It is in the Systoms we first perceive a tendency to the hook or 
prominence on the apex of the lower jaw after quitting the herbivorous 
genera, and for this reason, as well other peculiarities which appear to point 
them out as a typical or most perfect group, they are placed first in the list 
of carnivorous genera. 
19. The Leucises or white fishes, succeed the Perilamps. In this genus 
the prominence on the lower jaw is more distinct, and I have restricted 
the genus to such as possess this character, having at the same time the 
dorsal and anal small, the former placed anterior to the latter. They are 
all carnivorous, but not constructed for leaping above the surface like the 
Perilamps, nor for springing like the Opsarions; although the shortness of 
the intestines, size of the stomach, and prominence of the tooth on the 
