300 gangetic fishes. Order V. 



hind the vent are closely united, and undivided. The tail fin 

 consists of two sharp lobes, and contains about twenty distinct 

 rays, besides some short compacted ones. 



39th Species. — Cyprinus nandina. Plate VIII. Fig. 84. 



A proper Cyprinus, with four tendrils ; with twenty-six rays 

 in the fin of the back, and eight in that behind the vent ; with 

 the lips fringed, and the nose smooth ; and with large scales. 



The Nandina (Nandin) I found in the Mahananda river, and 

 in the large adjacent marshes or lakes which surround the ruins 

 of ancient Gaur. In the Gorakhpur district I found a fish of 

 the same name, which differed in no respect from the descrip- 

 tion given below, except that it had only twenty-three rays in 

 the dorsal fin ; and I doubt much if this variation can be consi- 

 dered sufficient to constitute a distinct species. The Nandina, 

 of all the fishes that I have seen in India, has the greatest affi- 

 nity, in external appearance, to the Carp (Cyprinus carpio) of 

 Europe ; but many of its qualities are very different. Of all 

 Bloch's fishes, the Cyprinus Jimbriatus (Ichtk. Tome XII. PI. 

 CCCCIX.) has the greatest resemblance to the Nandina : but its 

 sides are spotted with red, and, according to La Cepede, (Hist, 

 des Poissons, Tome V. p. 502,) it has no tendrils ; and it has 

 tubercles on the nose, and only eighteen rays in the dorsal fin. 



The Nandina often grows to two, or even three feet in length, 

 and is a well-tasted fish. Its form is deep and thick ; but still 

 it is compressed. It is of a dark green colour above, with a cop- 

 pery gloss, and white below, with dark fins and red eyes. 



The head is small, blunt, and half oval, being rather flat 

 above. From each corner of the mouth there are two minute 

 tendrils. The nose is blunt and fleshy, without tubercles, or re- 

 markable pores. The mouth, which is low and small, opens 

 straight back. The jaws protrude in opening, and each has 



