384 BE. A. GTJKTHER ON THE 



This fish was originally described from the neigtbourliood of 

 Ispahan, and, if my identifications are correct, at later periods 

 from Amasia (Asia Minor) by Steindachner, and from Lake 

 Gokcha by De Filippi. Thus it seems to have a considerable range 

 in Western Asia, and the present collection contains specimens 

 from Sujbulak, from the Urmi Eiver, and the Nazlu Chai. 

 The largest specimen is 213 millim. long. The species is subject 

 to a considerable amount of variation, not merely dependent on 

 local influences, but apparently quite individual, as it obtains in 

 specimens captured at the same spot and at the same time. In 

 specimens from Sujbulak the cleft of the mouth is quite straight, 

 extending the whole width from side to side, the dorsal spine is 

 very feeble, and the crown of the head flattened. In a specimen 

 from the Urmi Eiver the crown of the head is more convex, the 

 dorsal spine sensibly stronger, the mouth gently crescent-shaped, 

 and there are only six longitudinal series of scales between lateral 

 line and ventral fin. The form of the mouth varies in three 

 specimens from Superghan (Nazlu Chai), from straight to a gentle 

 crescent, and to a distinct crescent; the strength of the dorsal 

 spine is intermediate between the Sujbulak and Urmi specimens, 

 and the longitudinal lows of scales between lateral line and 

 ventral fin varies from six to seven ; they have altogether the 

 appearance of being less well-fed than the specimens from Suj- 

 bulak. Two specimens from Ula represent a dwarf form with 

 very feeble and indistinctly serrated dorsal spine; the larger, a 

 male, is only 125 millim. long, yet fully mature, with developed 

 testicles and with a seasonal growth of minute tubercles along 

 the whole side of the body. 



These fishes, for which I have adopted Keyserliug's name, 

 belong to a group of the genus which is distinguished by the 

 feeble development of the dorsal spine and by scales of moderate 

 size. The fishes of this group show a considerable amount 

 of modification of the characters of various organs, such as I 

 have pointed out in the specimens from the Urmi district. Con- 

 sequently they have been described under numerous specific 

 names ; but without long series of specimens with exact localities, 

 it is impossible to form an opinion as to which of these names 

 deserve recognition. 



Thus, Capoeta steindachneri, Kessler (Izvest. obshchest. Lynbit. 

 estestv. X., Mosc. 1872, p. 47, pi. 6. figs. 3-5, or Pedschenko, Fauna 

 of Turkestan, Pisces, St. Petersb. 1874, p. 7, pi. 1. figs. 3 & 4), 



