260 



INDIAN CYPRINID^. 



occur ; and it is in this that the intelligence of the naturalist may be best and 

 most profitably displayed during his journies in new countries. 



53. The following tabular view of the distribution of Cyprinidae, though 

 avowedly imperfect, will serve to show how the leading groups are generally 

 dispersed. Cirrhins, for instance, appear to be peculiar to India, or at least to 

 the tropical parts of Asia, and the Catastoms to America ; while both are 

 represented in Europe by the true Carps. From the number of Gangetic 

 species, the Barbels like the Cirrhins would seem to have their metropolis 

 in India, from whence the genus is extended over the Caspian Sea, and 

 the Nile into Europe. 



The Gonorhynchs would also seem, as a group, to be natives of the 

 East, one species only having been found in South Africa, none in Europe, 

 and eleven in India. 



The greater part of the Sarcohorince are probably also Eastern fishes, 

 with the exception of the Breams and Lenciscs, although some of the European 

 forms set down under the latter genera may be found to belong either to 

 the Perilamps or Opsarions. 



The small sub-genera of PcecUia appear to be equally distributed in 

 all parts of the world, one having been already found in Africa, two species 

 in India, where a few more may be expected, seven species in America, 

 and seven in Europe; but in every case the species of one continent have 

 been found to be distinct from those of another. 



The Loaches ( Cohitis prop. Um.) afford another instance of the con- 

 centration of numerous species in India, while three only are found in 

 Europe, and none whatever in America. The annexed table exhibits the 

 general distribution of the family. 



