Cobitis. INDIAN CYPRINIDZ. 431 
upper part of the body (PI. 51 and 52), while the Schisture, or those with 
bifid caudal, have their colours, usually different shades of green, disposed 
in numerous rings or transverse bars distinctly marked on the sides. 
In their digestive organs, the true Loaches (Cobztis prop.) assimilate nearer 
than the Schisture to the preceding genera; the stomach is small, and 
slightly curved or lunate, so as to place the pyloric orifice in front, and the 
intestine is either convoluted slightly or straight, according as the stomach 
may happen to be distended; but the whole length of the alimentary canal 
does not exceed half that of the body.* 
* The observation of Mr. George Daniell communicated to Mr. Yarrell, British Fishes, p. 379, 
of two spherical bony cavities placed under the first and second vertebre, seem to me to be nothing 
more than the bony bilobate case enclosing the air-vessel, as pointed out by Schneider Syn. Pisce. 
Arted. 5 and 337. Professor Weber, according to Blumenbach, Comp. Anatomy, p. 285, found acon- 
nection between the air-vessel and ear of fishes by means of a chain of small bones analogous to the 
malleus, incus, and stapes, of Mammalia. These ossicula auditus occupy the situation of the bilo- 
bate case in the Loaches. What strengthens the probability of a connection between the air-vessel 
and ear of fishes, and destroys the idea of the situation of the air-vessel in the Loaches being so 
peculiar as Mr. Swainson supposes (Nat. Hist. Fishes vol. i. p. 362) is, that it is found in precisely 
the same situation in several of the Sz/urzdce, according to the interesting observations of Dr. J. Taylor, 
Gleanings in Science, Calcutta, June 1630. ‘‘ The air-vessel,” says Dr. Taylor of the Pimelodus 
gagora, P. bagarius, Silurus singio, Macropteronotus magur, Buch. “is placed behind the head, 
close to its articulation with the first vertebra ; and in this situation is connected with the ossicula 
auditus which are conspicuous, and present the same appearance as those of the S¢/urus boalis.” Dr. 
Taylor then enters into a very minute anatomical description of the part in question in each of the 
four species. In the first, it is situated in a bony cup attached by means of a narrow neck to the 
body of the first vertebra close toits junction with the cranium, and consists of two distinct air-blad- 
ders, which have no communication with each other. In the second species the air-vessel is also 
bilobate, but the lobes are situated on opposite sides of the vertebra. In the two last the air-blad- 
ders are also double, consisting of two lobes of pyriform shape, united at their narrow extremities, 
and continued in a funnel-shaped case projecting outward from the body of the first vertebra. As 
the direct affinity of the Loaches to Szluréde, is suggested by Mr. Swainson (Nat. Hist. Fishes, vol. i.) 
without, it would seem, being aware of the singular agreement in the curious points of structure 
