102 



A Notice of Indian Cyprinidm. 



and both here and at Simla, as well as in Kemaon, the Gono- 

 rhynchs and Mountain Barbels have not been found at greater 

 altitudes than six thousand feet above the level of the sea, where 

 we may presume they disappear ; but from that altitude down- 

 wards to the plain, they constitute the prevailing forms that have 

 hitherto been met with in the waters." p. 369. 



It is well known that several of the marine fishes, under pecu- 

 liar circumstances, produce derangement in the systems of those 

 who eat them ; it appears that similar affections are the result of 

 feeding upon some of the Indian Cyprinidffi. Thus we are told 

 " that many of the natives abstain from the use of the Cyprinus 

 cursis, imagining that if eaten on the same day with milk it will 

 occasion a disease called elephantiasis." p. 329. 



The Oreinus progastus " is said by the natives of Assam to 

 occasion swimming of the head and temporary loss of reason for 

 several days, without any particular derangement of the stomach. 

 It is the most herbivorous of the Barbels, and like some of the 

 Gudgeons, tends rapidly to decay after death, and in the abdom- 

 inal cavity a copious oily secretion is found, which is probably 

 the cause of its bad effects." p. 344. 



Our author observes, that in some species "the whole of the 

 abdominal viscera float in a dark, oily kind of flnid ;" and he re- 

 marks, " that either this fluid, or the great proportion of vegeta- 

 ble matter contained in the intestines of the gudgeon and Gono- 

 rhynchs, tends rapidly to putrefaction ; to which cause, as well as 

 to the neglect of removing the viscera from those species imme- 

 diately after they are caught, I ascribe the bad effects which have 

 by some been observed to result on certain occasions from their 

 use." " Mr. Bruce, of Assam, also mentioned to me, that he 

 knew of instances of indisposition supposed to be occasioned by 

 a variety of Bangon. All Bangons and Gonorhynchs should 

 therefore have the viscera removed soon after they are taken, and 

 the dark, oily fluid washed away ; when, if it be necessary, they 

 will keep fresh as long as any other kind of fish ; but if this be 

 neglected, the stomach rapidly putrefies, in which state, if it be 

 necessary to use these fish, the thin parts adjoining the ventral 

 fins should be removed." p. 371. 



I might proceed to point out much, which could not fail to 

 interest you, but it was not my intention to present an elaborate 

 paper. I wished merely by glancing generally at the work before 



