ce 
102 A Notice of Indian Cyprinide. 
and both here and at Simla, as well as in Kemaon, the Gono- 
rhynchs and Mountain Barbels have not been found at greater 
altitudes than six thousand feet above the level of the sea, where 
we may presume they disappear; but from that altitude down- 
wards to the plain, they constitute the prevailing forms that have 
hitherto been met with in the waters.” p. 369. 
It is well known that several of the marine fishes, under pecu- 
liar circumstances, produce derangement in the systems of those 
who eat them; it appears that similar affections are the result of 
feeding upon some of the Indian Cyprinide. Thus we are told 
“that many of the natives abstain from the use of the Cyprinus 
cursis, imagining that if eaten on the same day with milk it will 
occasion a disease called elephantiasis.” p. 35 
The Oreinus progastus “is said by the natives of Assam to 
occasion swimming of the head and temporary loss of reason for 
several days, without any particular derangement of the stomach. 
It is the most herbivorous of the Barbels, and like some of the 
Gudgeons, tends rapidly to decay after death, and in the abdom- 
inal cavity a copious oily secretion is found, which is probably 
the cause of its bad effects.” p. 344 
Our author observes, that in some species “the whole of the 
abdominal viscera float in a dark, oily kind of fluid ;” and he re- 
marks, “that either this fluid, or the great proportion of vegeta- 
_ ble matter contained in the intestines of the gudgeon and Gono- 
rhynchs, tends rapidly to putrefaction ; to which cause, as well as 
to the neglect of removing the viscera from those species imme- 
diately after they are caught, I ascribe the bad effects which have 
by some been observed to result on certain occasions from their 
use.” “Mr. Bruce, of Assam, also mentioned to me, that he 
knew of instances of indisposition supposed to be occasioned by 
a variety of Bangon. All Bangons and Gonorhynchs should 
therefore have the viscera removed soon after they are taken, and 
the dark, oily fluid washed away; when, if it be necessary, they 
will keep fresh as long as any other kind of fish ; but if this be 
neglected, the stomach rapidly putrefies, in which state, if it be 
necessary to use these fish, the thin parts adjoining the ventral 
fins should be removed.” p. 371. 
I might proceed to point out much, which could not fail to 
interest you, but it was not my intention to present an elaborate 
paper. I wished merely by glancing generally at the work before 
