Labeo. INDIAN CYPRINID^. 329 



by Buchanan, I would add further figures of the structure of scales in this part 

 of the family ; but having some doubts on the subject, I must allow this group 

 as well as the Cirrhins and Barbels, to stand for the present with some 

 obscurity as to the number of species that belong to them. 



II. — Cyprinus cursis, Buch. 

 t. 38, f. 3. 



Buchanan observes that it inhabits fresh water rivers and ponds in the 

 south of Bengal, and is often found from two to three feet in length ; it is full 

 of bones, and many of the natives abstain from its use, imagining that if eaten 

 on the same day with milk it will occasion a disease called elephantiasis. 



The figure above referred to is taken from a dry specimen, and was litho- 

 graphed before I was aware of the existence of an excellent figure in Bucha- 

 nan's collection, which I consider to be a male individual of Cyprinus curchius, 

 though he has given it one ray less in the dorsal and one more in each of 

 the pectorals, yet I have examined so many specimens that I cannot but re- 

 gard both as belonging to the same species. 



Its length, exclusive of the caudal, is rather more than thrice the altitude 

 of" the highest part of the body. There are eighty-three scales on the lateral 

 line, and twenty-seven in an oblique row from the base of the ventrals to the 

 dorsum. The dorsal fin is placed on the middle of the back, equidistant from 

 the snout and the caudal. The head is less compressed than the body, the 

 eyes are placed high, and the crown is flatly arched from side to side ; the lips 

 are fimbriated and continuous round the movith, and formed for collectinop 

 loose floating plants, such as are abundant in jeels and creeks; the snout is also 

 furnished Avith two small cirri, too minute to be of much evident utility. 

 The gill covers are full and gracefully rounded behind ; the caudal and dorsal 

 fins are large, the others less fully developed. The fin rays are according to 

 Buchanan, D.15 : P.18 : V.9 : A.7 : C.19— or, as I have found them, 



D.16:P.17: V.9: A.7:C.5^. 



G g 



