SarcohorincB. INDIAN CYPRINIDiE. 377 



Leuciscus and Opsarius among the Sm-cohorince. It remains, however, to be 

 determined from the materials of other parts of the world, whether the 

 Catastomi and Labes may not be united with the Cirrhini, and Cyprinus 

 carpio with the Barbels, or retained as the type of distinct groups to which 

 Cyprinus semiplotus, J. M. and other similar species may be united. It 

 remains in like manner to be determined, whether the Breams are to be placed 

 with the Paonomince, or, as the only Indian species indicates, with the Sarco- 

 horinee ; and in the latter case, if they may not be united in one group with 

 the Perilamps. 



It is these doubts, which can only be settled by a direct appeal to the 

 species of other countries, that renders a comparison of the two groups in this 

 place somewhat unsatisfactory. Without attempting to speculate on the 

 subject, we may at once compare together those genera in both sub-families 

 with which we are best acquainted. 



The head and body in the genus Barhus are long, and slender, but in the 

 genus Systomus short and deep : the Barbels blend in their direct affinities 

 with the herbivorous forms ; and the Systoms with the carnivorous. The same 

 result will attend the comparison of any of the other groups of the two sub- 

 families, as the Opsarions and Barbels : both have the body and head long and 

 slender, and are the most carnivorous in their respective groups ; both have 

 short dorsal fins, and the head much elongated behind the eyes ; but here 

 their relations end. The Barbels are without an armature on the jaws, and 

 have a long, narrow stomach and intestinal canal, and feed upon small fishes 

 and plants : the Opsarions, on the other hand, have a capacious fleshy stomach, 

 an armature on the lower jaw, and the power of seizing and swallowing piece- 

 meal species wonderfully approaching their own size. In the one case the 

 characters blend with the herbivorous, in the other with the carnivorous 

 Cyprins ; thus proving such relations as do exist to be those of analogy, and 

 not of affinity. The affinities of the Barbels are indeed well understood to 



be confined to the Paonom'uice. The direct affinities of the Opsarions with 



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