94 A Notice of Indian Cyprinidca. 



are the least carnivorous." This family is divided by Cuvier 

 into seventeen genera, characterized for the most part by the form 

 of the mouth, and the position of the dorsal fin. After a minute 

 examination of the digestive apparatus of these fishes, Dr. M'Clel- 

 land has pointed out a natural arrangement, which goes far to 

 simplify their study. He ascertained that upon the greater or 

 less development of the intestinal canal, he could determine the 

 food taken by the different genera — whether it was animal or 

 vegetable ; and that the position of the mouth corresponded with 

 this arrangement of the canal. That such of the family as lived 

 entirely upon vegetable food, possessed the greatest development 

 of the intestines — ^and their mouths were horizontal or directed 

 downwards ; and that those which lived upon insects, had the 

 least development of these organs — and their jaws were directed 

 upwards. 



He has accordingly formed three subfamilies, into which he 

 divides the Cyprinidae. The first, he calls PcEono7ninm, or her- 

 bivorus Cyprins — ^from poionomos, that feeds on herbs. This 

 subfamily is thus characterized — " mouth slightly cleft, either 

 horizontal or directed more or less downward. The stomach is 

 a lengthened tube continuous with a long intestinal canal ; colo- 

 rus plain ; three rays in the branchial membrane. Obs, Their 

 food consists chiefly of confervoid plants and other productions 

 of the vegetable kingdom." The Pceonotnina. contain five long 

 established genera ; viz. Cirrhinus, Barbiis, Cypriniis proprius^ 

 Gobio, and Gonorhynchiis. From the Barbels, our author has 

 formed a subgenus, which he calls Oreinus, from 0?-ei?ios, per- 

 taining to mountains. 



The second subfamily is called Sarcoborinm, from i:a^xo^ogog, 

 carnivorous. This subfamily is composed of five genera. Two 

 of these genera were previously established, viz. Leuciscus, 

 (Klein,) and Abrmnis, (Cuv.) — three other genera are formed by 

 our author. The first of these, he calls Systomns, from Systo- 

 9nos, that has a narrow mouth. Characters. " Intermaxillaries 

 protractile, dorsal and anal short, the former opposite to the ven- 

 trals and preceded by a spinous ray ; body elevated, and marked 

 by two or more distinct dark spots, or diffuse spots either on the 

 fins or opercula, prominence on the apex of the lower jaw ob- 

 scure." 



