302 



On the Fresh Water 



[No. 35, 



II. — 0?i the Fresh Water Fishes of Southern India. By 

 T. C. Jerdon, Esq., Assistant Surgeon, Madras Estab- 

 lishment. ( Continued from p, 149. 



[I beg to observe tliat in my measiu'ements of the relative proportions of bead and 

 depth of fisb to tbe length, I take the length only as far as the base of the caudal fin. 

 I believe that Cuvier and McLelland measui-e to the end of the caudal fin, but as this 

 is apt to vary somewhat, and moreover very liable to injury, I think the other mode is 

 preferable.] 



Oed. Malacopteeygii, 

 Fam. Cyprinidoe. 

 Dorsal fin single, of few rays ; maxillary teeth minute, or want- 

 ing ; mouth (typically) small. 



In this numerous family I shall follow nearly the arrangement 

 given by McLelland in his most valuable Monograph of the group, 

 (Asiatic Researches, vol. I9lh,) which I consider infinitely superior 

 to that of Valenciennes. 



Gen. Cyprinus, 



Body elevated ; dorsal fin usually long, preceded by spinous rays j 

 no cirri ; lower jaw short. 



Cyprinus Tcontius. (New Species.) 

 Muzzle blunt, truncated ; snout with mucous pores, head small ; 

 profile rising abruptly to front of dorsal, thence gradually drooping ; 

 dorsal fin high in front, low behind, with spines, the third strong, 

 broad, simple. D. 3-12, A. 2-6. Colour dusky greenish, brighter 

 beneath ; fins dashed with reddish — 38 or 39 scales along the lateral 

 line in 13 rows. 



I have found this fish (which is the only one appertaining to true 

 Cyprinus in S. India) in the Cavery and its tributaries, growing, it 

 is said, to a considerable size ; my specimens were only a foot long. 



* C. pot ail. Sykes. 



" Deep and fleshy, slightly compressed, dorsal fin of 13 rays, 

 pectoral of 14, and anal of 9 — scales large and silvery, length 10 or 

 more inches, height 3^ inches." 



This fish, judging from the above brief description, appears to 

 me to be a true C^/prinus—l have great doubts where to place the 

 next. 



