348 INDIAN CYPRINID^. Pesonomines. 



species for which the same fish-pond would answer, and Avhich it would be 

 equally desirable and practicable to introduce to similar situations. 



C. CATLA, Buch. 



Pise. Gang. PI. 13, f. 81 — ^p. 287. Catla of the fishermen. 



Buchanan says that this species differs from C. carpio, or common Carp of 

 Europe only in wanting cirri, but it also differs from that species in the want 

 of spinous rays in the dorsal and anal, as well as in general form. It ap- 

 proaches however much nearer to the Prussian Carp (C. gihelio) the general 

 figure, character of the fins, and number of their rays, being the same in both; 

 but they differ in the size of their scales and proportion of the head. 



The length of the head is half that of the body (exclusive of the head 

 and caudal), and its depth is equal to half its length. There are forty -four 

 scales along the lateral line, and fourteen in an oblique line from the base of 

 the ventrals to the back, the length of the dorsal is equal to about a third 

 length of the body. The fin rays are, 



D.18: P.18: V.9 : A.8 : C.19. 



The lower jaw consists of two broad bony plates joined slightly in front, 

 Vv^here they project a little before the upper jaw. 



The Catla is said by Buchanan to be limited to Bengal, I found it how- 

 ever as high in the Bramaputra as Bishenath, although it is there less 

 abundant than within the limit of the tides beyond the reach of brackish 

 water ; but it lives and attains great size in tanks and ponds quite unconnected 

 with tides and currents, so that it is capable of being introduced wherever 

 there is fresh water. There is no species of more importance than this in 

 an economical point of view. Buchanan informs us that it is sometimes found 

 four feet in length, and that it is a light wholesome food ; the head, he remarks, 

 is peculiarly delicious ; this I can also answer for, and am only at a loss to 

 know why it should have been so long overlooked by pur epicures. Although 



