FRESHWATER FISHES. 173 



23. Capocta syriaca. (Cuv. and Val. xvii., p. 407, pi. 514.) 



D. 12, A. 7, V. 10, P. 1 8. L. lat. 72— So. 

 This species is very common in the Lake of Gennesaret, and is also 

 found in the Jordan. The type specimen was from Abraham's River, at 

 the foot of Mount Sinai. It has also been found in the Euphrates at 

 Birajik. 



24. Capocta fratcrcnla. (Heckel. Fische Syr., p. 69, pi. v., f. 2.) 



D. 13, A. 8, V. 9, P. 17. L. lat. 70 — 72. L. trans. 13. 



This fish has not been yet found in the Jordan system, but it abounds 

 in all the mountain-streams of Lebanon. At the Alo-erian villafje of 

 Deichun, near Safed in Galilee, there is a large fountain full of this species. 

 These fish are looked upon by the Arabs as sacred to Mohammed, and 

 they will on no account allow anyone to take them. A little to the north 

 of Tripoli also, at the shrine of Sheikh el Bedawi, is a copious spring, 

 with a large basin and streams flowing from it, choked with these fishes, 

 which seem piled in layers, with hardly space to move. They are an 

 object of veneration, and are always fed by the worshippers. They 

 follow in masses any visitor as he walks by the edge, gaping for food ; but 

 we were not allowed to take one, though a little lower down I secured a 

 number. 



This fish ascends the mountain-streams of Lebanon to spawn, and 

 leaps the cascades like a salmon. It is excellent eating, and its flesh is a 

 pale pink colour. 



The Arabs call it Sciiiakh nahri. 



25. Capocta socialis. (Heckel. Fische Syr., p. 115, pi. xv., f 2.) 



D. 12, A. 8—9, V. 10, P. 16. L. lat. 67. L. transv. 14. 



This species, which attains the length of 12 inches, is very abundant 

 in Lakes Huleh and Gennesaret, and down the whole course of the Jordan, 

 to which it seems confined. It is nearly allied to C. danmscina. 



26. Capocta amir. (Heckel in Russegger Reis. ii., 3, p. 258.) 



D. 12, A. 8, V. 10, P. 14. L. lat. 72. L. transv. 13. 



This fish occurs in the northern streams flowing into the Mediter- 

 ranean. 



