414 INDIAN CYPRINID^. Sarcoborince. 



rapid swimming and sudden efforts essential in procuring prey, which con- 

 sists chiefly of Gudgeons and other elongated spineless species, which are 

 swallowed entire. 



The four first species of the group are white, with long falciform pecto- 

 rals ; the mouth and head obliquely raised with regard to the axis of the body, 

 as in the Perilamps, with which Cyprinus bacaila, Buch. and O. leucerus agree 

 in habits, living exclusively on insects. Opsarius pholicephalus is however a 

 most destructive and voracious fish-eater. The habits of O. albulus are 

 as yet unknown, but they no doubt correspond with one or other of the 

 adjoining species. These four are strictly Buchanan's Chelce, and from 

 their compressed and prominent abdominal margin, as well as their form, cer- 

 tainly do evince a relation to the ClupecB as Buchanan supposed ; but that this is 

 merely a relation of analogy, we may conclude from the want of cceccB, as well 

 as the hard serrated abdomen, while the head corresponds with that of the 

 Perilamps, and the abdominal canal with that of the Opsarions. Buchanan's 

 name Chela, may therefore be retained for them as a sub-genus. The remaining 

 species of the group however are very different ; the mouth is horizontal, the 

 head larger and longer, and the body not more compressed than that of the 

 SalmonidcB, from which they differ in their shorter and more capacious in- 

 testinal canal, which is without aecal appendages, and in the absence of teeth, 

 while their direct affinities confine them to the Cyprinidte, although carni- 

 verous in the very highest degree. 



I.-— Cyprinus bacaila, Buch. 

 P. G. t. 8. f. 76. 



The difference between this species and the variety which I have called 

 O. leucerus is very slight, the latter having but two rays less in the anal. All 

 the other characters being nearly the same, I am in some doubt as to the 

 propriety of regarding them as distinct species. 



