INDIAN CYPRINID^. 



231 



24, The Opsarions are Cyprinidee that live upon other species of their own 

 class ; they are no less remarkable for the peculiarity of their colours than for 

 their remarkable structure and habits. Instead of the longitudinal stripes of the 

 Perilamps, they are characterised by transverse bands or spots, having a tenden- 

 cy to form cross bars on the sides. The analogy between the structure and 

 character of the Opsarions and Felince has already been referred to (16). Why 

 the former should present similar external markings to those which belong to 

 the most destructive types of quadrupeds and birds cannot well be accounted 

 for on other principles than those of symbolical representation, by which an 

 uniformity of design appears to extend throughout all the infinite forms in 

 the animal kingdom. As an ignorant confidence in this or any other doctrine 

 would be as absurd as a denial of any thing else with which we are imper- 

 fectly acquainted, the only way in which we can evince our respect for those 

 who have opened so vast a field for inquiry is, to imitate their industry, 

 leaving our views to be slowly formed and matured with the progress of 

 inquiry — the only way in which sound or useful results ever were, or can be, 

 elicited in scientific pursuits.* 



Green appears to be the characteristic colour of the markings on the 

 sides of Opsarions, as blue or purple forms those of the Perilamps ; and those 

 Opsarions that are not either marked with transverse green bars, or oblong 

 spots of the same colour transversely placed with regard to the body, are 

 covered with a silvery pigment similar to that of the Leuciscs. 



* Nothing is more easy, or more common because it is easy, tlian to announce as discoveries the 

 startling results of immature inquiry into obscure subjects ; yet when we consider the comparatively 

 small amount of real discovery solely attributable to Newton, compared with the extent of his ap- 

 plication, and how seldom a Newton appears, we sliould always receive witli suspicion the supposed 

 discoveries of pei-sons wlio from tlieir frequent appearance in public, and the number of their occupa- 

 tions, argue a sad deficiency in all those qualities essential to tlie promotion of any science. 



