INDIAN AND AFRICAN FRESHWATER FISH-FAUNAS. 317 



But the following additions have to be made. Among the 

 Sci^NiDiE, genus Scicsna, which has representatives among the 

 freshwater fish-fauna of India, as have also the GtOBIID^, but 

 whether any of the former are found in African fresh waters is 

 hardly proved, but some of the latter have been. 



Among the Percina, genus Ambassis is present in Indian 

 fresh waters, but is not found in Africa. 



Although Dr. Griinther limits the investigations made into the 

 fish-fauna of the Alpine tracts of the Himalayan region to what 

 Grriffith accomplished, the researches of Dr. Stoliczka showed 

 that he obtained freshwater forms in Tibet at nearly 16,000 feet 

 above the sea-level*. 



But it may well be asked. Is it by examining large groups of 

 fishes as a wliole, or by investigating their distribution in genera or 

 species, that we obtain the most accurate information as to the 

 zoological affinities between different localities ? I consider the 

 latter plan is that which is best suited for this purpose, and in 

 examining the analogy between the Indian and African freshwater 

 fish-faunas, I find as follows : — 



In India, as restricted, I found 87 genera of freshwater fishes, 

 of which only 14 have representatives in Africa ; while among the 

 369 species of which these genera are composed, only 4 extend 

 to Africa. If we examine the relationship of the same fauna in 

 this restricted Indian area we find, of the 87 genera, 44 extend 

 to the Malay Archipelago, and of the 369 species, 29 are present 

 in both localities ; or, tabulated, it comes as follows : — 



Indian FresJiwater MsJies. 

 87 genera: — 14 extend to Africa ; 44 to the Malay Archipelago. 

 369 species : — 4 extend to Africa ; 29 to the Malay Archipelago. 



* Dr. Giinther, 'Introduction to the Study of Fishes,' p. 227, observes: — 

 " No observations have been made by which the altitudinal limits of fish-life in 

 the Himalayas can be fixed ; but it is probable that it reaches the line of per- 

 petual snow, as in the European Alps, which are inhabited by Salmonoids, 

 Grifiith found an Oreinus and a Loach, the former in abundance in the Helmund 

 at Gridun Dewar, altitude 10,500 feet, and another Loach at Kaloo at 11,000 

 feet." Even in the ' Catalogue of the Fishes of the British Museum,' vol. vii. 

 p. 360, it is stated of Stoliczka's Loach, Nemacheilus StoliczJccB, " Province of 

 Eupshu (Tibet), 16,500 feet above the level of the sea." 



