ICHTHYOLOGY. 23 



from the most easterly portion of Tibet near the head waters of the Yang-se-kiang ; (6) E. 

 berdmorei, from Tenasserim. 



The distribution of the foregoing six species of this genus is interesting, because it is 

 suggestive of whether, at some remote period, the Himalayan range, the mountains between 

 Tibet and China, and the spur or continuation southwards through Burma and Siam, may 

 not have been connected one with another. 



Whilst adverting to this point, I would mention another circumstance : the only Siluroid 

 stated to be found in Western Turkestan is the Silurus glanis, Linn. Three other species of 

 the same genus have been captured on the hill-ranges of India; and their distribution 

 somewhat accords with that of Exostoma 



(1). Silurus cochinchinensis, Cuv. & Val. = Silurichthys berdmorei, Blyth, and 

 (2). Silunis loynaadensis, Day. These fishes, found in hills up to about 2,500 feet, 

 have been obtained in the Western Ghats, Akyab Hills, Tenasserim and Cochin 

 China. They would appear to be restricted to those mountains winch are not far 

 removed from the seacoast. How it is that several species of fishes are common 

 to Malabar and Siam, or the countries contiguous to it, whilst they are entirely 

 absent from the intermediate districts of India, is a question which I do not pro- 

 pose entering upon. 

 (3). S. afghana, Gunther, from Afghanistan, is identical with S. dukai, Day, from 



Darjeeling. 



Cyprinidce form the entire collection of the Yarkand Mission, after its arrival beyond the 

 upper waters of the Indus. If we examine the members of this family found on the Hima- 

 layas in the same manner as we have the Siluroids, we find as follows : Discognathus, so 

 easily recognizable by the sucker on the lower lip, is found some distance up the moun- 

 tains, but is rare above 5,000 feet. Oreinus, with its small scales, broad mouth, and like- 

 wise a sucker behind the lower jaw, becomes more and more common the higher we ascend. 

 The Expedition obtained one species at Leh, in the Upper Indus ; and it has been found 

 as a genus extending from Afghanistan along the Himalayan Range, and near Bhamo 

 by the last Yunnan Mission, or the same district as the Siluroid genera Exostoma and 

 Silurus. It appears to essentially prefer the sides of hills and impetuous torrents. 



Some of the stronger Labeos, Barbels (Barbus), and a Barilius are found here and there 

 on the slopes and in the side streams of the Himalayas up to very considerable heights. 

 They, however, are Indian forms winch, if able to do so, appear to migrate during the 

 breeding-season to the mountains to deposit their ova in the side streams which are unre- 

 plenished by snow-water. Here the fry are often compelled to remain until the succeeding 

 year's rains swell the waters, washing food into their retreats to enable them to grow, or else; 

 to permit them to descend to the plains. 



Once near the siimmit of these mountains, and beyond districts where adhesive suckers 

 are a necessity for moderate-sized fishes to possess to prevent their being washed away, we 

 come upon genera as rare in the plains of India as are the Indian forms at the summit of the 

 Himalayas. 



Kashmir is a locality traversed by this Mission, a hilly Himalayan district, and one 

 to which it is necessary to refer. In Hiigel and Heckel's "Fische aus Kaschmir" we find the 

 following species recorded : 



Oreinus plagiostomus, Heckel ; O. sinuatus, Heck, ; Schizoiliorax cwrvifrons, Heck. ; 

 S. longipinnis Heck. ; S, niyer, Heck. ; S. nusus, Heck. ; S. hueyelii, Heck. ; 



