354 LIEUT.-COL. W. H. SYKES ON THE 
much arched: belly nearly as much so: head obtuse-conic. Lateral line in the centre 
of the body, running straight from the eye to the fork of the tail. Dorsal fin of 20 strong 
rays, the first two undivided, sloping rapidly ; pectoral fins of 18 rays, sharp ; ventral 
fins nearly triangular, of 9 rays, situated a little behind a perpendicular from the first 
dorsal ray ; anal fin of 8 rays, including an anterior double ray, sloping rapidly behind : 
tail deeply forked, of 19 rays, besides three minute rays outside each longest ray ; lobes 
very sharp, but the line between them sublunulate. Fish described, 21 inches long by 
7 inches high ; width 23 inches. Nose or upper lip with minute tubercles: flesh firm, 
sweet, and agreeable: bones numerous, but sufficiently large not to be troublesome. 
The fish is highly esteemed, and to me appears the most valuable of the Carps in India. 
The outline of the body of this fine fish, which is called ‘ Tambra’ from the general 
prevalence of a copper colour in it, is exactly that of the European Bream (Cyprinus 
Brama), supposing the anal and the dorsal fins changing places. 
In 86 species of Cyprinus described by Dr. Hamilton, there are only two which, from 
the composition of their fins, will admit of the Tambra being compared with them—the 
Cyprinus Nandina and the Cyprinus Nancar; but the former has 26 rays in the dorsal 
fin, fringed lips, 4 tendrils, and a smooth nose, and must therefore be set aside. The 
latter has in every fin precisely the same number of rays as in the Tambra, and corre- 
sponds in form, but it has 4 tendrils, no tubercles, and its lateral line and colour are 
quite different. The Tambra has certainly a close affinity to the Cyprinus Gibellio of 
Bloch, and, like it, wants the tendrils ; but its tuberculated nose, greater size, and re- 
markable colour, sufficiently distinguish it. 
Cyprinus Porain. 
A Cyprinus proper, deep and fleshy ; slightly compressed ; without tendrils ; with the dorsal fin of 13 rays, 
pectoral of 14, and anal of 9. 
_ Avery deep, high-backed, fleshy fish, compressed but slightly. Scales large and 
silvery: dorsal fin on the highest part of the back, and having 13 rays, including the 
first treble ray ; pectoral fins of 14 rays ; ventral fins of 10 rays, including a very minute 
bony ray in front of the longest ray: vent far back: anal fin of 9 rays, including the 
first treble ray : tail forked, of 19 rays, besides 4 or 5 rays outside each longest ray. 
Length of the fish described, 10 inches ; height, 3} inches; width, 1} inch. Brought 
from Nursewpoor, on the Beema river. 
This is a true Cyprinus agreeably to Dr. Hamilton’s subgeneric distinctions, but the 
number and arrangement of the rays in its different fins will not admit of its being iden- 
tified with any of the species described by him. 
Found in the Beema river, near Taimboornee. 
