FISHES OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 



CYPRINID.E. 



THE CARP FAMILY. 



This femily, says Cuvier, is recognised by the mouth being 

 slightly cleft, with jaws in most instances without teeth, and 

 its border formed by the maxillary bones: the gullet furnished 

 with strong teeth: rays of the gill-membrane very few in 

 number. The body is covered with scales, and there is no 

 adipose fin on the back: ventral fins on the abdominal line. 



The character assigned by Artedi is, that there are three rays 

 in the gill-membrane; mouth altogether smooth, and in the 

 gullet two hard saw-like bones on the lower part, and above 

 a sinsfle oval bone not so hard as the others, these bones 

 supplying the place of teeth. The air-bladder is constricted 

 in the middle as if tied with a cord; to which we may add 

 that from the hindmost chamber of this bladder is directed 

 forward a duct to be united to the gullet, or perhaps to the 

 brain. Abdominal fishes. 



The bones of the gullet here referred to are in some degree 

 equivalent to the beds of teeth in the posterior portion of the 

 mouth in many other species; and some other kinds not closely 

 allied to the CijprinidcB have somewhat similar beds, as especially 

 the family of Wrasses. But in the CijprinidcB, as they appear 

 to exercise a special office, somewhat answering to rumination, 

 as in addition to their situation near the entrance of the stomach, 

 their construction is more prominent and strong; and they arc 

 fixed on a firm bone of a crooked shape, which gives them a 

 firm and defined motion, in which they act by powerful muscles. 

 In fact it appears certain that a real action of rumination takes 

 place in these fishes, although they do not possess a complication 

 VOL. IV. B 



