BARBUS. A 



Synopsis of the Sjjecies. 



I. Exposed surface of scales striated by numerous longitudinal, or even some- 

 what converging, straight or slightly wavy cantils * ; dorsal fin with 8 to .11 

 branched rays, the last simple ray, if ossified, never serrated ; two barbels 

 on each side, rarely one f. 

 A. Last simple dorsal ray more or less enlarged, ossified, without trace 

 of segmentation, at least in its basal half, forming a more or less strong 

 spine J ; anal with 5 branched rays § . 

 1. Ventral fin with its first ray in front of or below anterior rays of dorsal, 

 or dorsal originating slightly in advance of ventrals ; 4|— 8| scales 

 between origin of dorsal fin and lateral line. 

 a. Lower lip continuous across the chin. 



a. 36-46 scales in lateral line, 4-6 between lateral line and ventral, 



16-18 round caudal peduncle. 



8- 

 Sc. 44-46 yf, 5 ; dorsal with d branched rays ; 



posterior barbel not half diameter of eye, 



anterior usually absent 1. B. tropidolepis, Blgr., p. 20. 



7- 

 Sc. 43 uf , 5 ; dorsal with 8 branched rays ; pos- 



terior barbel ^ diameter of eye . . . . 2. B. polylepis, Blgr., p. 21. 



Gi-7- 

 Sc. 36-42 fTi -i? 4 ; dorsal with 8 branched rays ; 



posterior barbel as long as eye; first ray of 



ventral in advance of first ray of dorsal . . 3. i?. liohthi, Stdr., p. 22. 



7' 



Sc. 40 ^.J, 4 ; dorsal with 8 branched rays ; pos- 

 terior l)arbel as long as eye ; first ray of 

 dorsal in advance of first ray of ventral . . 4. 7^. microteroleph, Blgr., p. 23. 



^. 32-37 scales in lateral line, 4 between lateral line and ventral, 

 12-14 round caudal peduncle ; dorsal with 8 branched rays. 

 Sc. 32-37 yi, 4; posterior barbel 2 to 2^ diameters 

 of eye ; interorbital width 2| to 3 times in 

 length of head ; lower lij) with a median 

 lobe T). B. macrouema, Blgr., p. 24. 



* The species showing (his type of scales (the Bynni or Mahseer Group) agree very 

 closely in the number of vertebrae, viz. 40 to 44 (23-24 + 17-21). 



t In B. tropidolepis and B. mirrcnema. 



t In the present synopsis, and in the descriptions, the length of the stiff part only 

 is given. 



§ It is of course impossible to marshall the uiultitude of species grouped under this 

 head in anything like a linear series. Different groupings could be adopted according to 

 the weight attached to the size of tlie scales, the structure of the mouth, the position of 

 the dorsal fin, &c. The arrangement here followed is that which appears to the author 

 to lead most rejidily to correct identification of specimens. 



26 Bou I/Ii 



