FRESHWATER FISHES. 165 



Sea. It is by far the most abundant of all the species in the lakes. I 

 have seen them in shoals of over an acre in extent, so closely packed that 

 it seemed impossible for them to move, and with their dorsal fins above 

 the water, giving at a distance the appearance of a tremendous shower 

 pattering on one spot of the surface of the glassy lake. They are taken 

 both in boats and from the shore by nets run deftly round, and enclosing 

 what one may call a solid mass at one swoop, and very often the net breaks. 

 They are also taken in large quantities by poisoned crumbs thrown from 

 the shore on to the surface of the water. By casting nets hundreds are 

 often taken at once. 



This species especially is carried down at the mouth of the Jordan by 

 thousands into the Dead Sea. The fishes never get further than a few 

 yards, when they become stupefied, and soon turn over on to their backs, 

 while Cormorants and King-Fishers, perched on the snags or floating 

 logs, gorge themselves without effort, and often heaps of putrifying 

 carcases washed on the shore poison the atmosphere, and afford a plenteous 

 feast to the ravens and vultures. 



The Chromis tibcriadis is distinguished by the fishermen as Mouchtlcbet. 



10. Chromis andrecB. Gunther. P. Z. S., 1S64, p. 492. 



D. ^, A. ^, V. -, P. 15. L. lat. 31. 

 II' 9 5 



Plate XVII. Fig.i. 

 This species, first described by Dr. Gunther from specimens I procured 

 in the Sea of Galilee in 1864, is not so common as the species already 

 described, and seems to remain generally in the deep waters. It does not 

 attain a great size, nor has it been found either by Dr. Lortet or myself 

 in any other part of the course of the Jordan except in this lake. It is not 

 distino-uished by any special name among the Arab fishermen. Our 

 largest specimen was ']\ inches long. 



11. Chromis simonis. Gunther. P. Z. S., 1S64, p. 492. 



D. — , A. I, V. -, P. 12. L. lat. 32. 

 9^5 



Plate XVII. Fig. 2. 

 This is another of the species peculiar to the Jordan system, and 

 there, so far as we know, restricted to the little Lakes of Gennesaret and 



