92 A Notice of Indian CyprinidcB. 



Art. X. — A Notice of " Indian Cyprinidce," being the second 

 part of the nineteenth volume of Asiatic Researches, by Mr. John 

 M'Clelland. Read Feb. 17, 1841, to the Boston Society of 

 Natural History, by D. Humphreys Storer. 



We are almost entirely ignorant of the fresh- water fishes of ma- 

 ny of those countries, whose marine species are tolerably well 

 known to ichthyologists. The reason is obvious — the smallest 

 sea-port has its market constantly supplied with those species 

 which are used for food — the great proportion of such species, are 

 taken along the shores of the different countries, and but very few 

 fluviatile fishes are considered of sufficient value to be procured — 

 so that, we are compelled to learn from the zealous naturalist, who 

 is actuated by other motives than the expectation of pecuniary 

 reward, the characters and habits of such species as inhabit the 

 streams and rivers and lakes. He therefore who attempts to elu- 

 cidate a subject so desirable to be known, recommends himself by 

 the mere effort, to our regard — should he succeed in his attempt, 

 we ought not to withhold our gratification. 



Agassiz, whose name is a guarantee of the value of his labors, 

 is at this moment preparing a magnificent work upon the "Pois- 

 sons d'Eau Douce de I'Europe Centrale." In our own country, 

 Dr. Kirtland, like a true naturalist, with an enthusiasm propor- 

 tionate to the obstacles he encounters, is endeavoring to present 

 you with the " Fishes of the Western waters" — and I feel confi- 

 dent, when his entire paper shall be published, although future 

 research may, and undoubtedly will point out errors, that it must 

 be invaluable to the American ichthyologist. 



While these observers are prosecuting their enquiries, we are sur- 

 prised to receive an elaborate paper upon the " Indian CyprinidaB," 

 read to the Asiatic Society in Sept., 1838, and published in their 

 " Researches" the following year. This paper, to which I would 

 now call your attention, was prepared by Mr. George M'Clelland, 

 assistant surgeon in the Bengal medical service. Our author was 

 induced to undertake the elucidation of this subject, by perceiving 

 that Cuvier had adopted only such of the Indian Cyprinidae as 

 were figured in Dr. Buchanan's work on Gangetic Fishes — leav- 

 ing the remaining three fourths of the species described in that 

 work, as not well determined — and feeling satisfied that these 



