Cirrhinus. INDIAN CYPRINID^. 323 



The dorsal is placed equidistant between the head and caudal, its base is 

 equal to the length of the head and to one third of the body, and there are forty- 

 two scales along the lateral line, and thirteen in an oblique line from the 

 ventrals to the back. The operculum is the segment of a circle whose centre 

 is placed on the posterior margin of the post operculum, a peculiarity which 

 belongs to none of the adjoining species, and the eye is placed considerably 

 nearer to the snout than to the branchial aperture. The fin rays are, 



D.15:P.16: V.9: A.8:C.20. 



This species is common, Buchanan states, in the rivers of the Gangetic 

 provinces as well as in those of Ava, and I may add Assam. It is propagated, 

 he says, in ponds with considerable care, being a most valuable fish, and its 

 beauty, he observes, both as regards its form and colours, equals its value for the 

 table. The same praise may however be with almost equal justice bestowed 

 on each of the preceding species, which are generally, with the exception of the 

 Calhasu, sold under the same name ; and indeed the fishermen are perhaps the 

 only natives who are acquainted with their distinctions. With regard to their 

 importance, it may be observed that there are no animals of more extensive 

 utility, as they are equally used by all castes and classes. I believe, however, 

 that in the North Western Provinces they are scarce, yet there is no part of 

 the plains of India into the waters of which they might not be introduced 

 and propagated to the greatest extent. In any attempts that might be made to 

 this end, it would be necessary to attend not only to specific, but also to sexual 

 distinctions ; it may be suflficient in this place to remark that the abdomen in 

 female fishes is usually larger than in the males, while in the latter the 

 branchial aperture and gills are somewhat larger, as Mr. Yarrell states, than in 

 the former. 



Having pointed out the distinctions between the foregoing species with 

 sufficient minuteness to enable any one to recognise them, I may notice a few 

 points connected with their general appearance and structure. In colour they 



