96 A Notice of Indian Cyprinidce. 



cies of which have either elongated cyhndric bodies or flat heads, 

 as the Loaches and PcBcilicB. They are without spinous rays in 

 any of the fins, the intestine is short, and enveloped in a copious 

 mucous secretion ; three to six rays in the branchial membrane." 

 There are four genera. 



The first genus of this subfamily is called Platycara, from 

 platus, broad, and kara, head. Its characters are " head flat, with 

 the eyes placed on the upper surface, fins thick and opaque, pec- 

 torals large, anal small, caudal bifid, mouth without teeth and pla- 

 ced on the lower surface of the head, three rays in the branchial 

 membrane. Obs. The stomach and intestine form a continuous 

 fleshy tube, not much exceeding the length of the body ; they 

 are found in elevated mountain streams." 



The second genus is Psilorhynchus, from psilo, thin or attenu- 

 ated, and rynchus, a snont or beak. It is distinguished by " muz- 

 zle elongated and flattened, eyes placed on the edges of the head, 

 mouth small and suctorial without cirri, opercula small, caudal 

 bifid, dorsal opposite to the ventrals." 



The third genus Poecilia, includes the genera Poedlia, Lebias, 

 Fundulus, Molinesia, and Cypmiodoji, contained in the " Regne 

 Animal." A single subgenus is formed from this genus, which 

 is called Aplocheilus, from AnXog, simple or single, and /sdog, the 

 lip, and having the following characters — " intermaxillaries fixed, 

 apices of the jaws broad, flat, and directed upwards ; five rays in 

 the branchial membrane ; fins transparent. Obs. A short dorsal 

 is placed opposite to the last ray of a long anal, the ventrals are 

 very small ; the intestine and stomach form together a small tube 

 scarcely longer than the body." 



The fourth genus Cobitis, (Linn.) is divided into two subge- 

 nera ; the first, our author calls Cobitis propria — here, we find 

 the "caudal entire, large, and ornamented as well as the dorsal, 

 with bars or spots ; prevailing color of the body, various shades 

 of brown, disposed in more or less dense nebulee." To the se- 

 cond subgenus, our author has given the name of Schistura, 

 from i:xt.aTogj split or separated, and ovgu, cauda. Its characters 

 are "caudal bilobate, dorsal and ventrals opposite, and short; 

 with or without suborbitar spines ; sides ornamented with fascia- 

 ted bars, mostly green. Obs. The intestine is somewhat longer 

 than that of the true Loaches, ( Cobitis propria,) being usually 

 reflected once upon the stomach." 



