390 INDIAN CYPRINID.E. Sarcohorince. 



The Perilamps, or first of the three groups in question, seem to follow 

 the Breams as next in the direct relations of habit and structure. Our only 

 Indian Bream has the short alimentary canal of the Sarcohorince, and those of 

 Europe appear to indicate a somewhat corresponding disposition for animal 

 food. Such is particularly the case with Ahramis blicca which, when seizing 

 live bait, according to Mr. Yarrell, is more prone to rise than to descend, causing 

 the float to lie horizontally on the water rather than to drag it like other 

 species beneath the surface. This may or may not indicate an affinity to 

 the habits of the Perilamps, though the form and colour of the species in 

 question are in favour of the affirmative ; I merely allude to this peculiarity, 

 which is referred to by JMr. Yarrell on the authority of Mr. Lubbock, as 

 a singular circumstance, probably capable of explanation by reason of the 

 affinity here suggested. 



The first species in which we observe a decided approach to the cha- 

 racters of the Perilamps is Cyprinus devario, Buch., which combines the long 

 anal and form of a Bream with the dorsal of a Cyprinus propritts, and the 

 mouth and real markings of a Perilanipus. As the latter group, and consequent- 

 ly the peculiarities by which its species are distinguished were unknown until 

 now, some of the most striking characters which belong to it were lost sight 

 of in the figure of Cyprinus devario given by Buchanan. The mouth is direct- 

 ed upward, and although the peculiar prominence of the apex of the lower 

 jaw is absent on this species, yet the deficiency in this respect is compensated 

 for by a slight roughness on the lower jaw, first observed by Buchanan, 

 and which he thought " might perhaps be considered to be teeth," without 

 a suspicion that an indication of any maxillary structure equivalent to pre- 

 hensile teeth in this family should prove the carnivorous propensities of 

 the species possessed of such peculiarity, and that both in structure and mode 

 of life they should be found perfectly distinct from ordinary Cyprins. 



