1922.] S. L. Hora : Central Asiatic Cobitidae. 73 



/). Eye not in middle of head. 



i. Snout shorter than postorbital part of head. 



a. Anal fin separated from caudal by a distance 



almost equal to its own length ... ... A^. microps. 



B. Anal fin separated from caudal by a distance 



considerably less than its own length ... N. yasinensis 9 • 



ii. Snout longer than postorbital part of head. ... .V. tibetanus. 



Nemachilus yarkandensis Day. 



187C. Nemachilus yarkandensis. Day, Proc. Zool. Soc. London, p. 79. 

 1878. Nemachilus yarkandensis, Day, Sci. Res. 2nd Yarkand Mission, 



Ichtliyol., p. 14, pi. v, fig. 3. 

 1889. Nemachilus yarkandensis, Herzenstein (in part), Wiss. Res. 



Przeivalski Central As. Reis., Zool. Ill (2), p. 74. 

 1910. Neivachihis yarkandensis, Zugmaycr, Zool. Jahrb. Syst. XXIX, 



P- 295. 



The Indian Museum possesses a large number of specimens 

 of this species from Yarkand, Pas Robat . Ynukihissar and 

 Kashgar. Resides these there is one specimen about 132 mm. in 

 length labelled as having come from Kashmir which I am convinced 

 also belongs to this species. So far N. yarkandensis has been re- 

 corded only from the Tarim River system and its extension into 

 Kashmir is very doubtful and requires confirmation. My specimens 

 correspond in every detail to the typical form. The various 

 varieties described and figured by Herzenstein are not represented 

 in our collection ; probably they are all far Eastern or Chinese 

 forms 



Neniachilws tarimensis Kessler ' has been considered to be 

 synonymous with N. yarkandensis by Herzenstein, who figures 

 Kessler's original specimen of N. tarimensis as A 7 , yarkandensis 

 (s. s(.). After a careful comparison I am lead to believe that 

 the two species arc different and that N. tarimensis as figured 

 by Herzenstein differs from N. yarkandensis in the following 

 points: — 



N. tarimensis. 



The commencement of the dorsal fin is 



almost equidistant from the tip of the 



snout and the base of the caudal 



fin. 

 The eves arc large and are not situated 



entirely in the anterior half of the head. 



N. yarkandensis. 



The commencement of the dorsal fin is 

 distinctly nearer to the base of the 

 caudal fin than to the tip of the 

 snout. 



The eyes are small and are situated 

 in the anterior half of the head. 



As regards the three varieties of this species, it is difficult to 

 discuss their true relationships without examining Herzenstein's 

 specimens. N. yarkandensis longibarbus differs from the typical 

 form in the commencement of the dorsal fin, which is situated in 

 the middle of the bod} r , the longer barbels and the curve of its 

 dorsal profile. Probably it represents a new species. The other 

 two varieties, brevibarbus and macroplerus somewhat resemble our 

 specimens. 



' Kessler, Bull. Acad. St. Pelcrsboitrg XXV, p. 300 (1878). 



