226 



INDIAN CYPRINID^. 



consist of species whose habits accord with the views of Cuvier and Linnaeus ; 

 and Sarcoborince or carnivorous Cyprins, consisting of several natural ge- 

 nera ; and Apalopterincs, including the Cohitince or Loaches, the PcBciliance, 

 Cyprinoclons, and other genera which in the Regne Animal appear to have little 

 connexion with the family, as well as some new forms peculiar to India. 



13. As the peculiarities of the first sub-family, consisting in the form 

 of their mouth and digestive organs have been pointed out, I shall now 

 proceed to notice the characteristics in structure and habits of the several 

 groups of SatxohorincB. Two of the most remarkable genera of this sub-family 

 are the Perilamps and Opsarions ; the first, consisting of small insectivorous 

 fishes remarkable for the brilliancy of their colours, always disposed in streaks. 

 The second are lengthy handsome species, larger than the Perilamps, though 

 still of small size and very bright in their colours, which are however disposed 

 in cross bars, — these are exclusively carnivorous, and remarkably voracious. 



14. The Perilamps (Perilamjms) form the connection between the 

 Systoms and Leuciscs. The mouth is placed in a directly opposite posi- 

 tion from that which it occupies in the typical forms of the Pceonomiiice ; 

 the jaws are directed upward, and their apices are placed on a level 

 with the back or crown ; their intestine is short, and in no instance exceeds 

 the length of the body, and their food consists of insects only, which they 

 derive by springing from beneath the surface of the water, thus forming a 

 direct contrast to the Gonorhynchs and other Pceonomin<s whose food is 

 exclusively derived from sandy, rocky, or muddy bottoms. Eleven or twelve 

 species of this new genus are described in this paper. 



15. The Opsarions ( Opsarius) differ from herbivorous Cyprins still 

 more widely in their economy and habits. The body is long, the mouth 

 widely cleft and horizontal, and though without teeth, the symphysis of the 

 lower jaw is armed with a sharp hook in the more characteristic, but which is 

 blunter and less prominent the further we pass from the most typica. 



