CYPRINIDiE. 
< o 
43 
These fish vary so much, however, with regard to 
the apparent shape of their heads and the thickness 
of their lips, according to tlicir age, the kind of stream 
they are living in, and the season of the year, that I 
think it safer at present to leave them under one 
name, although they may possibly turn out eventually 
to belong to two or more distinct species. I have 
found generally that those which are found in still 
water, or such as have been feeding chiefly on water 
weeds, and the larger specimens, have soft thick 
lips, more or less lobed, of which the upper has a 
tendency to project over the lower one, and to make 
the head appear more pointed. So far as I can make 
it out, the only reliable point seems to be the com- 
parative length of the head. 
In Barbus mosal the length of the head is contained 
3 1 times in the total length (exclusive of the tail fin). 
In large individuals the proportion is nearer 3^ 
times. 
Counting the scales along the lateral line from the 
head to the caudal fin, there will usually be found to 
be about 26, sometimes one more or less. Counting 
diagonally downwards from the centre of the back, 
there will be found four series to the lateral line, and 
four more from the line to the centre of the belly. 
There are two entire series between the lateral line 
and the root of the ventral fin. 
Ci-iar. Dorsal ray bony and strong. 25 to 27 
scales along the lateral line, not more than two rows 
between the lateral line and the ventral fin. 
