338 ' INDIAN CYPRINID^. PceonomincB. 



narrower and more compressed at the snout ; but as the contents of the 

 abdomen were removed from the only specimen examined, I have been un- 

 able to ascertain whether the digestive organs possess any peculiarities. 



The head is equal to one-third of the body in length, twenty-six scales 

 are ranged along the lateral line on either side, and six in each oblique row 

 from the base of the ventrals to the dorsum. The fin rays are, 



D.12 : P.15 : V.9 : A.7 : C.^^. Or, according to Buchanan— 

 D.13:P.17:V.9: A.8:C.19. 



The first four rays are said by Buchanan to be united in the dorsal, 

 while I can only observe three to be thus joined, which may reconcile my 

 twelve with his thirteen ; and as the last ray of the anal is double, Buchanan 

 may have reckoned eight where I have only seven. 



The Moscd was found by Buchanan in the Kosi river, on the northern 

 side of Bengal. Mr. Hodgson's specimen came, I presume, from the same 

 quarter, where Buchanan observes it sometimes attains four or five feet in 

 length, and that it is of a long, compressed, but thick form, more prominent 

 above than below ; its colours are shining green on the back, softening into 

 silvery on the belly : the head, he says, is sharp, oval, and narrower than the 

 body and smooth, with a small tubercle (not however a peculiar mark) between 

 the nostrils which are near the eyes ; the mouth is low and horizontal, with 

 rounded and smooth lips ; the lower jaw is rather shorter than the upper. 



The Native names Mahasaula, Mahaseer, and Tora, variously corrupted, 

 probably referring to the size of the scales or the head, are without discrimina- 

 tion applied by the Natives of Bengal and Assam to the preceding five spe- 

 cies, the scales of which are so large that Buchanan informs us gaming cards 

 are manufactured from them at Dacca. They appear to be confined to the 

 rapid and clear currents of the larger rivers along the skirts of mountains, and 

 are therefore only met witli in the northern and eastern parts of Bengal, as 

 well as Upper Assam. Their flesh is free from the numerous small bones that 

 lessen the value of many otherwise important species, and afford an excellent. 



