1868.] SURGEON F. DAY ON INDIAN FISHES. 581 



Dr. Giinther for families and genera, confining my remarks to 

 species. 



Commencing with the genus Bnrbus, representatives of it exist 

 in Southern India in almost every tank or river. These fishes are 

 very valuable as food, though some are more bony than others. 

 The various species termed " Mahseers " belong to this genus ; a 

 few of them attain a very large size. 



In the Madras Presidency the following appears to be the relative 

 economic value of the Barbels, subdividing them by the number, 

 presence, or absence of their appendages. I have not perceived any 

 variations in the species in this respect, except in the Barbus neilli, 

 wherein one barbel was divided into three at its external extremity. 



All or nearly all those fish having four barbels in the Madras 

 Presidency', provided they are soberly coloured, and either have or 

 are deficient in the lateral blotch, grow to a large size. The bril- 

 liantly coloured ones are mostly residents of mountain- streams, or of 

 rivers contiguous to hills, and they are generallj' small. 



Those with two barbels never grow to the large size attained by 

 those with four. They are extensively distributed ; and some, espe- 

 cially when living in mountain-streams, have brilliant colours. 



Those without barbels are mostly of small size; some of them have 

 a vivid coloration. 



These facts are, or should be, important considerations in India 

 with respect to stocking new pieces of water ; for when large species 

 are required those which have four barbels should be selected, irre- 

 spective of the consideration as to whether they have a serrated or 

 smooth dorsal spine. 



In the Madras Presidency the " Tamil " name for a Carp is 

 " Candee meen" or " Carpfish," but with numerous prefixes to it, 

 differing in different localities, in fact changing about as the thought 

 strikes the native who is being interrogated. Thus the Barbus 

 (Leuciscus) filamentosus, Cuv. & Val., having a red tail, is called 

 •• Saal Candee" or " red-tailed Carp ; " the Chela, from its brilliant 

 white colour, the " Vella Candee " or " white Carp ; " the Barilius, 

 from living in rivers, the " Aart Candee " or " river Carp." Having 

 premised this, which shows the general inaccuracy of native names, 1 

 have still, however, given them when obtained ; but their designations 

 are more generic than specific, or, rather, more family ones than either. 



Barbus neilli, sp. nov. 



B. iii. D. \. P. 15. V. 10. A. ?. L. 1. 24-26. L. tr. f . 



Length of specimens from 4 to 36 inches. 



Length of head |, of pectoral \, of base of dorsal i, of base of 

 anal ^j, of caudal ^ of the total length. Height of head |, of 

 body I, of dorsal fin '-^, of ventral \, of anal J^- of the total length. 



Eyes nearly circular, upper margin near the profile; diameter 

 froni § to i of length of head, 1 k diameter apart and the same dis- 

 tance from end of snout. 



Head slightly pointed and compressed at the snout. 



Proc. Zool. Soc— 1868, No. XXXVIII. 



