72 
INDIAN FRESH-WATER FISHES. 
Origin of dorsal fin midway between tlie base of 
the last anal ray and tlie end of the snout. 
Dr. Day identifies this fish with Gobio isnrus , 
M c Cl., from Upper Assam. It does not, however, 
agree with McClelland’s description. 
GENUS DISCOGNATHUS. 
These are small fishes living in rapid streams, 
among and under the stones. The lower lip is formed 
into a horny disk with free margins and is said to be 
used as a sucker for the purpose of clinging to the 
rocks. It certainly does assist it in holding on, but I 
should be inclined to doubt in this and other similar 
cases, the action of any suctorial power such as is pos- 
sessed by the lamprey. One thing to be remembered 
is that in these rapid streams the rocks are invariably 
covered with a coating of slimy vegetable matter, on 
which these fishes seem to feed, but which would pre- 
vent any sucker apparatus from taking a hold of the 
stone, at least I should imagine so. 
The pectoral and ventral fins are broad and thick 
and placed horizontally. By these arrangements these 
fish are able to cling firmly to the surface of the 
stones, even in a considerably strong current. Bar- 
bels 2 or 4. If 2, the upper pair arc absent. 
I was struck with an ingenious method of capturing 
these fish employed in the Central Provinces. The 
water was clear and shallow and numbers of these 
little fish could be seen, but it would have been a 
vain attempt to throw a net over them, as they would 
