Mr. J. McClelland on Indian Cyprinldae. 43 



the water, thus forming a direct contrast to the Gonorhynchs 

 and other PcBonomin(e, whose food is exclusively derived from 

 sandy, rocky, or muddy bottoms. Eleven or twelve species 

 of this new genus are described in this paper. 



15. The Opsarions {Opsarius) differ from herbivorous Cy- 

 prins still more Avidely in their ceconomy and habits. The 

 body is long, the mouth widely-cleft and horizontal, and 

 though without teeth, the symphysis of the lower jaw is armed 

 with a sharp hook in the more characteristic, but which is 

 blunter and less prominent the further we pass from the most 

 typical forms ; but this hook, more or less developed, is cha- 

 racteristic not merely of the Opsarions, but of the subfamily 

 {Sarcoborina;) to which they belong. It is received into a cor- 

 responding depression in the apex of the upper jaw when the 

 mouth is closed. The back is straight ; the dorsal is placed 

 opposite to a long anal, both tins being situated near the cau- 

 dal extremity, by which the power of darting or springing is 

 rendered most perfect*. The abdominal cavity is long, and 

 is chiefly occupied by a straight stomach of equal length, 

 Avhich is divided by a strangulation from a short fleshy intes- 

 tine connecting the stomach directly with the vent, without 

 any convolutions or elongation of the tube. 



16. "The energies of nature,'^ to use the words of Mr. 

 Swainson, "are here concentrated as it were to the production 

 of that form most adapted for one especial purpose," that of 

 springing on their prey like the Fe/ime or Cats, which they 

 seem to represent. It is no uncommon thing to find an Op- 

 sarion so overgorged that the tail of its prey remains protru- 

 ding from the mouth, to be swallowed after that portion which 

 is capable of being received into the capacious stomach is suf- 

 ficiently digested to admit of the introduction of the re- 

 mainderf. 



17. Two other genera of this subfamily remain to be no- 

 ticed, viz. Systomus and Leuciscus. The first is made up 

 chiefly of small species named Pungti by the Indian fisher- 

 men. If we were merely guided by their general appearance 

 and the form of their fins, the only principle of division hi- 



* The principal instrument of progressive motion in fishes is the caudal 

 fin ; other fins, as shown by Roget, are mere auxiliaries, serving to balance 

 the body while it receives propulsion from the tail. Vide ' Bridgewater 

 Treat.,' i. 286. This is correct in regard to fishes in general ; but in the 

 Opsarions and Perilamps, the dorsal and anal, from their position and size, 

 contribute greatly to their velocity, being also situated on or near the tail; 

 thus increasing the caudal surface, which, as Roget justly observes, operates 

 as an oar does in sculling. 



t I have seen Opsarions so often in this state, that I presume the)' are 

 easier caught in it than in any other. A similar power of deglutition is re- 

 corded of sea-gulls by Blumeubach. 



