Opsurius. 



INDIAN CYPRINIDiE. 



415 



II. — Opsarius leucerus, J. M. 

 t. 47. f. 3. 



This is a bright silvery species, very common about Calcutta, with the 

 lower lobe of the caudal longer than the upper. The body above is straight 

 from the apices of the jaws to the caudal fin, the lower margin is gracefully 

 arched from the apex of the lower jaw, so as to form the deepest part of the 

 body under the pectorals, which are long and falciform, and covered above 

 their insertion by a scaly appendix. The fin rays are, 



D.9:P.13:V.9:A.14:C.| 



The scales are very minute ; the stomach is short, thick, and pyriform, termi- 

 nating in a short muscular intestine which extends straight to the vent. 



Some of the ponds near Calcutta contain vast numbers of this species. 

 After the first fall of rain that took place in June last, when the surface had 

 been parched and dry for several months, I was surprised to see a number of 

 persons fishing in the trenches of the Esplanade, which at first seemed to be 

 quite unconnected with any ponds from which the fish could have come, but 

 on inquiry, I found that they had ascended to the drains from a reservoir 

 at some distance, from which the fish must have had a fall of several feet 

 to surmount. 



III. — Opsarius pholicephalus, J. M. 



t. 47. f. 2. 



Cypr 'nms gora, Buch. P. G. p. 263. 



Crown covered with scales ; minutely serrated and sharp abdominal mar- 

 gin ; sides silvery without spots, lateral line descends to the lower third of 

 the abdomen. Pectorals long, ventrals very small. Muscular structure of the 



