Indian Cyprimdae, 



having the following characters — " intermaxillaries fixed, apices of 

 the jaws broad, flat, and directed upwards ; five rays in the branchial 

 membrane; fins transparent. Ohs. A short dorsal is placed oppo- 

 site to the last ray of a long anal, the ventrals are very small ; the 

 intestine and stomach form together a small tube scarcely longer 

 than the body." 



The fourth genus Cobitis, (Linn.) is divided into two subgenera ; 

 the first, our author calls Cobitis propria— here, we find the ** caudal 

 entire, large, and ornamented as well as the dorsal, with bars or 

 spots ; prevailing color of the body, various shades of brown, dis- 

 posed in more or less dense nebulae." To the second subgenus, our 

 author has given the name of Schistura, from 2^tffT0Cj split or se- 

 parated, and ovpa^ cauda. Its characters are " caudal bilobate, 

 dorsal and ventrals opposite, and short ; with or without suborbitar 

 spines ; sides ornamented with fasciated bars, mostly green. Obs. 

 The intestine is somewhat longer than that of the true Loaches, 

 f Cobitis propria ,J being usually reflected once upon the stomach." 



We have thus exhibited a mere outline of the important improve- 

 ments proposed by Dr. M'Clelland in the natural arrangement of the 

 Cyprinidce; but besides his classification, our author has presented us 

 a general synopsis of the species, and illustrated them with Hthogra- 

 phic figures, from drawings mostly his own, all of which are sufi[ici- 

 ently well-executed to convey accurate ideas, and many of them are 

 highly creditable. Besides furnishing nineteen colored plates, con- 

 taining nearly one hundred figures, the volume before us is enriched 

 by a single plate, exhibiting the peculiar forms of the jaws in several 

 genera of the sub-family Paonominace, and the differences of form and 

 proportion of the alimentary canal in each of these great sub-families. 



Almost one-half of the entire volume is devoted to an " account of 

 the species," and it constitutes by far the most interesting portion. 

 We here find, not merely a scientific description of each fish, with its 

 Latin and native name, and its geographical locality, but its habits are 

 elucidated with great clearness and evident acquaintance; its value as 

 an article of food, from its delicacy or abundance, and the possibihty 

 and importance in many instances of its being transported from one 

 locality to another for economical purposes, are pointed out with the 

 zeal of a philanthropist; while the perseverance and fidelity with 



