120 Mr. J. M'Clelland on Indian Cyprinidae. 



other remarkable characters, I propose for it the generic 

 name Platycara^'-. Several specimens of this genus, corre- 

 sponding, I suspect, with the spotted species of Gray, P. inacu- 

 lata, plate 49, fig. 2 f, Avere brought down from Bouton by Mr. 

 Griffith, but they were unfortunately in such a decayed state 

 when opened that we have been unable to obtain from them 

 a very full specific description. I have however, from these 

 specimens, been able to satisfy myself on other points con- 

 nected with their structure, and find not merely that they are 

 distinct from the Gonorhynchs {Garro, Buch.), in consequence 

 of their short fleshy abdominal tube, which does not, inclu- 

 ding the stomach, exceed the length of the body, while that 

 of the Gonorhynchs is equal to eight lengths of the body; but 

 that their broad and blunt head is moi-e like that of a Silurus 

 than a Cyprinus. Their character is rendered still more re- 

 markable by the great breadth and position of the pectorals, 

 situated almost beneath the ejes, and the fleshy pedicles or 

 arms on which they are placed are decided analogies to nata- 

 torial forms. If we compare the characters of the Platycara 

 with those of the natatorial types in the other classes, we are 

 struck with the analogy — " a blunt truncated muzzle, an ob- 

 tuse head with strong jaws for seizing animal food." The 

 short intestines of the Platycara prove their habits to be car- 

 nivorous ; and though the mouth is not very large, the jaws 

 are remarkably strong, composed, as in the Gudgeons, of two 

 limbs soldered in the middle, but much stronger than in the 

 instance referred to. Among birds, the Owls, the natatorial 

 group of Raptores, and the Fissirostres in the circle of perchers, 

 as well as most of the Natatores, are distinguished above other 

 birds for their breadth of wing, and the blunt or flattened 

 form of the rostrum or the head, as has been proved by the 

 philosophical analysis of the class by Vigors and SwainsonJ. 

 46. For the next cr suctorial form (plate 50, fig. 1, 2) we are 



* From platus, broad, and kara, the head. 



f From the importance hei'e given to these species as forming a new 

 type, I have transferred tlie two figures from Hardwicke's ' ilhistrations,' in 

 which there is no description of them, to plate 49. 



Since the above was written, the collectors employed by my friend Mr. 

 Griffith in the Kasyah mountains have obtained an additional species; and 

 as their liberal employer has no object to serve beyond the interest of sci- 

 ence, he has freely permitted me to make use of this or any similar object 

 of zoological interest contained in his collections. The species alluded to, 

 P. nasuta, is described in Frinsep's Journal of the Asiatic Societ}' for No- 

 vember 18.38, plate 55, fig. 2. See also plate 57, fig. 2 of this paper : in this 

 species the pectoral pedicles are very slightly developed. 



J The Poeciliance, Sclin., to which I have added a subgenus /iplodieltts, 

 as well as the adjoining genera with flat heads and teeth, 1 also refer to the 

 same type, plate 42, fig. 2, '6, plate 55, fig. 4. 



