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94° A Notice of Indian Cyprinidae. 
are the least carnivorous.” This family is divided by Cuvier 
into seventeen genera, characterized for the most part by the form 
of the mouth, and the position of the dorsal fin. After a minute 
examination of the digestive apparatus of these fishes, Dr. M’Clel- 
land has pointed out a natural arrangement, which goes far to 
simplify their study. He ascertained that upon the greater or 
less development of the intestinal canal, he covild determine the 
food taken by the different genera—whether it was animal or 
vegetable ; and that the position of the mouth corresponded with 
this arrangement of the canal. That such of the family as lived 
entirely upon vegetable food, possessed the greatest development 
of the intestines—and their mouths were horizontal or directed 
downwards; and that those which lived upon insects, had the 
least development of these organs—and their jaws were directed 
upwards. 
He has accordingly formed three subfamilies, into which he 
divides the Cyprinide. The first, he calls Peonomine, or her- 
bivorus Cyprins—from poionomos, that feeds on herbs. This 
subfamily is thus characterized—* mouth slightly cleft, either 
horizontal or directed more or less downward. The stomach is 
a lengthened tube continuous with a long intestinal canal; colo- 
rus plain; three rays in the branchial membrane. Obs. Theit 
food consists chiefly of confervoid plants and other productions 
of the vegetable kingdom.” The Peonomine contain five long 
established genera; viz. Cirrhinus, Barbus, Cyprinus proprius, 
Gobio, and Gonorhynchus.. From the Barbels, our author has 
formed a subgenus, which he calls Oreinus, from Oreinos, per- 
taining to mountains. & 
_ The second subfamily is called Sarcoborina, from agxofog0s; 
carnivorous. This subfamily is composed of five genera. ‘Two 
of these genera were previously established, viz. Leuciscus, 
(Klein,) and Abramis, (Cuv.)—three other genera are formed by 
our author. The first of these, he calls Systomus, from Systo- 
mos, that has a narrow mouth. Characters. “ Intermaxillaries 
protractile, dorsal and anal short, the former opposite to the veu- 
. trals and preceded by a spinous ray ; body elevated, and marked 
by two or more distinct dark spots, or diffuse spots either on the 
fins or opercula, prominence on the apex of the lower jaw ob- 
scure.”’ = 
