266 gangetic fishes. Order V. 



low, and are rather longer than the head : each has twelve rays, 

 of which the first is undivided, and the others branched. The 

 ventral fins stand apart from each other, and are shorter than the 

 pectorals ; and both the extreme rays of each are undivided, and 

 the intermediate ones branched. The fin behind the vent 

 slopes backward ; and the two first of its rays are undivided, 

 and the others branched. The fin of the tail has its upper lobe 

 the shortest, and contains nineteen distinct rays, besides some 

 that are short and compacted. 



II. Division. — Cypbinus barilius. 



Fishes of the Genus Cyprinus, with the body very long and 

 much compressed ; with the sides irregularly marked with nume- 

 rous incomplete transverse bars or spots; with the back fin placed 

 considerably behind the middle of the fish ; and with one late- 

 ral line at least running parallel to the lower edge of the fish. 



The fishes of this division, on account of the numerous spots 

 or marks on their sides, have a considerable resemblance to our 

 Trout, and, by the English in Bengal, some of them have been 

 considered as belonging to that genus ; but they have only one 

 fin on the back. I have not been able to trace in authors any 

 species that should be referred to this division ; — all the Cyprini 

 described as having spots being much wider in form, and hav- 

 ing the lateral lines straight, and the back fin nearer the middle 

 of their body. 



Several species of Cyprinus included in the first division, and 

 nearly allied to the Clupanodons, approach very near those resem- 

 bling trouts, as they have a lateral line parallel to their lower 

 edge, and their back fin far behind their middle ; but the marks 

 on the sides of the second division form a well-defined charac- 

 ter. Besides the above circumstances, and those mentioned in 

 the generic character, and in that of the division, I observe, 



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