Cirrhinus. INDIAN CYPRINIDZ. 323 
The dorsal is placed equidistant between the head and caudal, its base is 
equal to the length of the head and to one third of the body, and there are forty- 
two scales along the lateral line, and thirteen in an oblique line from the 
ventrals to the back. The operculum is the segment of a circle whose centre 
is placed on the posterior margin of the post operculum, a peculiarity which 
belongs to none of the adjoining species, and the eye is placed considerably 
nearer to the snout than to the branchial aperture. The fin rays are, 
D.15: P.16: V.9: A.8: C.20. 
This species is common, Buchanan states, in the rivers of the Gangetic 
provinces as well as in those of Ava, and I may add Assam. It is propagated, 
he says, in ponds with considerable care, being a most valuable fish, and its 
beauty, he observes, both as regards its form and colours, equals its value for the 
table. The same praise may however be with almost equal justice bestowed 
on each of the preceding species, which are generally, with the exception of the 
Calbasu, sold under the same name ; and indeed the fishermen are perhaps the 
only natives who are acquainted with their distinctions. With regard to their 
importance, it may be observed that there are no animals of more extensive 
utility, as they are equally used by all castes and classes. I believe, however, 
that in the North Western Provinces they are scarce, yet there is no part of 
the plains of India into the waters of which they might not be introduced 
and propagated to the greatest extent. In any attempts that might be made to 
this end, it would be necessary to attend not only to specific, but also to sexual 
distinctions ; it may be sufficient in this place to remark that the abdomen in 
-female fishes is usually larger than in the males, while in the latter the 
branchial aperture and gills are somewhat larger, as Mr. Yarrell states, than in 
the former. 
Having pointed out the distinctions between the foregoing species with 
sufficient minuteness to enable any one to recognise them, I may notice a few 
points connected with their general appearance and structure. In colour they 
