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Show 1876.] MR. F. DAV ON THE FISHKS OF YARKAND. 805 been captured on the hill-ranges of India; and their distribution somewhat accords with that of Exostoma. I. Silurus cochinchinensis, Cuv. & Val. = Silurichthys berdmorei, Blyth, and (2) Silurus wynaadensis, Day. These fishes, found in hills up to about 2500 feet, have been obtained in the western ghauts, Akyab hills, Tenasserim, and Cochin China. They would appear to be restricted to those mountains which are not far removed from the sea-coast. How it is that several species of fishes are common to Malabar and Siam, or the countries contiguous to it, whilst they are entirely absent from the intermediate districts of India, is a question which I do not propose entering upon. 3. S. dukai, Day, is from Darjeeling. Cyprinidae form the entire collection of the Yarkand Mission, after its arrival beyond the head-waters of the Indus. If we examine the members of this family found on the Himalayas in the same manner as we have the Siluroids, we find as follows -. - Discognathus, so re^ cognizable by the sucker on the lower lip, is found some distance up the mountains, but is rare above 5000 feet. Oreinus*, with its small scales, broad mouth, and likewise a sucker behind the lower .jaw, becomes more and more common the higher we ascend. The expedition obtained one species at Leh or Ladak, the head-waters of the Indus; and it has been found as a genus extending from Afghanistan along the Himalayan range, and near Bhamo by the last Yunnan Mission, or the same district as the Siluroid genera Exostoma and Silurus. It appears to essentially prefer the sides of hills and impetuous torrents. Some of the stronger Labeos, Barbels (Barbus), and a Barilius are found here and there on the slopes and in the side streams of the Himalayas up to very considerable heights. They, however, are of Indian forms which, if able to do so, appear to migrate during the breeding-season to the mountains to deposit their ova in the side streams which are unreplenished by snow-water. Here the fry are often compelled to remain until the succeeding year's rains swell the waters, washing food into their retreats to enable them to grow, or else to permit them to descend to the plains. Once near the summit of these mountains, and beyond districts where adhesive suckers are a necessity for moderate-sized fishes to possess to prevent their being washed away, we come upon genera as rare in the plains of India as are the Indian forms at the summit of the Himalayas. Cashmere is a locality traversed by this Mission, a hilly Himalayan district, and one which it is necessary to refer to. In Hiigel and Heckel's 'Fische aus Kaschmir" we find the following species recorded :- Oreinus plagiostomus, Heckel; O. sinuatus, Heck.; Schizothorax curvifrons, Heck. ; S. longipinnis, Heck.; S. niger, Heck. ; S. nasus, Heck.; A huegelii, Heck.; S. micropogon, Heck.; A planifrons, Heck. • S. esocinus, Heck. ; Cirrhina gohama, Ham. Buch.; Barbus * This belon "-a to a group characterized, amongst other things, by a row of tiled scales along the base of the anal fin, and enclosing the excretory outlets. PKOC. ZOOL. Soc-1876, No. LIII. 53 |