Cyprinus. gangetic fishes. 301 



within a transverse membrane, fixed by one edge. The lips are 

 fleshy, and edged with many short sharp slender tendrils : the 

 under one is reflected. The nostrils are nearly in the middle, 

 between the eyes and nose. 



Although both form arches, the back is rather more promi- 

 nent than the belly t : towards the fin the former has a sharp 

 edse. The lateral line descends with a curve from the shoul- 

 der. The vent is behind the middle. The scales are large, and 

 marked with dots and concentric circles. Above each ventral 

 fin is a scale-like appendant. 



The dorsal fin is rather behind the middle, and contains 

 twenty-six rays, or, in one variety, only twenty-three. The first 

 three rays are closely conjoined, and undivided, the first being 

 very short : the others are branched ; and the last divided to 

 the root. The pectoral fins are much smaller than the head, 

 low placed, and sharp above, each containing sixteen rays. 

 The ventral fins are about as large as the pectorals, and do not 

 reach the vent : each has nine rays. The fin behind the vent 

 slopes much backward, and the three first of its rays are undi- 

 vided, and closely united, the first being very short ; the others 

 are branched, and the last divided to the root. The fin of the 

 tail is deeply divided into two sharp lobes, and in all contains 

 twenty-three rays. , 



40th Species. — Cyprinus rohita. Plate XXXVI. Fig. 85. 



A proper Cyprinus, with two tendrils ; with fifteen rays in the 

 back fin, and seven in that behind the vent ; with large scales ; 

 with the nose smooth and devoid of remarkable pores ; with 

 the lips indented on the edges ; and with the under one re- 

 flected. 



The Rohita, in its form, has a considerable resemblance to 

 the Cyprinus nasus, (La Cepede, Hist, des Poissons, Tome V. 

 p. 585 ;) but, in its size and qualities, has a stronger resem- 



