44 Mr. J. M'Clelland on Indian Cyprinidse. 



therto adopted in this family, they might be brought into the 

 several subgenera, Cyprinus proprius, Cirrhinns, &c. of the 

 ' Regne Animal.' Buchanan, who published his ' Gangetic 

 Fishes' cotemporaneously with Cuvier's system, had not an 

 opportunity of consulting its divisions, while those of Lace- 

 pede, Bloch, and previous writers were not reconcilable to In- 

 dian species ; Buchanan therefore formed tempoi'ary groups 

 for his own convenience, applicable to the local features of the 

 family in this country. The Pungti, like all his other groups, 

 were formed according to native opinions of their habits un- 

 shackled by artificial views, and being better marked than 

 most genera, Buchanan's Pungti have more or less affinity to 

 each other. 



18. The stomach and intestine of the Systoms are in none 

 of the species I have examined more than thrice the length 

 of the body, and the former, w hich is thick and fleshy, usually 

 contains the remains of insects. The mouth is small, and 

 when opened the intermaxillaries project so as to form a nar- 

 row tube, — hence their generic name. 



It is in the Systoms we first perceive a tendency to the 

 hook or prominence on the apex of the lower jaw after quit- 

 ting the herbivorous genera ; and for this reason, as well as 

 other peculiarities w hich appear to point them out as a typical 

 or most perfect group, they are placed first in the list of car- 

 nivorous genera. 



19. The Leuciscs, or white fishes, succeed the Perilamps. 

 In this genus the prominence on the lower jaw is more di- 

 stinct, and I have restricted the genus to such as possess this 

 character, having at the same time the dorsal and anal small — 

 the former placed anterior to the latter. They are all carni- 

 vorous, but not constructed for leaping above the surface like 

 the Perilamps, nor for springing like the Opsarions ; although 

 the shortness of the intestines, size of the stomach, and pro- 

 minence of the tooth on the lower jaw prove them to be 

 scarcely less rapacious, yet I am not sure as to the accuracy 

 of separating them from one or other of the preceding genera 

 merely on account of the size and position of the dorsal and 

 anal fins, particularly as the dental hook is only of import- 

 ance in distinguishing them from some of the Pceonomime. 



20. After this outline of the structure of Sarcohorhue, a fev/ 

 remarks regarding their colours will be necessary, as embra- 

 cing another principle on Avhich the divisions have been 

 formed. The \a hole of the subfamily Paionomin(e are remark- 

 able for their uniformly plain colours, consisting of olive- 

 green, bluish grey, or brow n, extended along the back, and 

 softened off on the sides, so as to leave the low er surface of the 

 body an impure white, partaking more or less of the colours of 



