CARPS AND CATFISHES. 39 



! 



tioned the Telescope Fish and the familiar Japanese Butter- 

 fly Fish. 



As a food-fish, the Goldfish is of little value, owing to 

 its usually insignificant size. 



Others of the Cyprinidee which have been introduced 

 into Australian fresh-waters or aquaria are the pretty little 

 Fighting Fish (Betta pugnax), the Tench (Tinea 

 tinea), and the Roach (Ljeucisciis nitilits}. The last-men- 

 tioned is of some importance as it is prolific, attains com- 

 monly a weight of at least 2 pounds, and is at the same 

 time of some value as a sporting-fish. It is a deep-bodied, 

 herring-like fish, having a silvery body and pretty red fins, 

 the short dorsal greatly resembling that of certain Herrings. 

 It appears to have adapted itself pretty well to our Aus- 

 tralian conditions. The Roach is a native of the rivers of 

 Europe. 



THE CATFISH FAMILY. 



(Family: Siluridte.} 



THE immense family of the Garfishes, which embraces about 

 1000 species, is spread over nearly the whole world; parti- 

 cularly in the fresh-waters, only a comparative few being 

 marine. In size, they range from the tiny "Candiru" of 

 Brazil, of a little over 2 inches in length; up to the huge 

 and hideous "Wels" which is spread over Europe, being 

 particularly abundant in the basin of the River Danube. 

 This is the largest strictly fresh-water fish in Europe; 

 sometimes attaining a length of over 10 feet and a weight 

 of 400 pounds. 



Catfishes are particularly interesting because of the 

 great care usually taken by them in looking after the eggs 

 and young. 



In Australian waters, particularly in the tropical or 

 semi-tropical portions, this family is well represented; the 

 most important species being the Estuary Catfish (Cnido- 

 glanis megastomns}, the Fresh-water Catfish (Copido- 



