252 



THE FKESII-WATER FISHES (JF EUROPE. 



Uknus : CobitiS (Artedi). 



Tlie g'cnus Cobitis as restricted comprises a few species which are fouiul in 

 Beu<ral and Assam^ Japan and Europe. It has tlie elongated form of body 

 seen in Misgurnns and Nemachihis, to which it is closely allied; but the 

 body is more or less compressed, and the back is not arched. Below the eye 

 there is a small bifid sub-orbital spine, which is capable of being- erected. 

 There are six barbels, which are limited to the upper jaw. As in the other 

 genera of the group, the air-bladder is contained in a bony capsule. The in- 

 sertion of the dorsal fin is opposite to the ventral, and the caudal is truncate, 

 or convexly rounded. 



Cobitis taenia (Linn.eus). — Spinous Loach. 



D. 10, A. 7, V. (), P. 0—7, C. 13. 



The distinctive [)re-orbital spine, which constitutes one of the marked 

 generic distinctions of this fish, has secured for it the popular name of the 

 Spinous Loach ; and its habit of frequenting the bottom, and hiding under 



Fig. 14'2. — COHITIS T,V,NI.\ (LIXN.liUs). 



stones, has caused it to be known in many parts of the country as the Ground- 

 ling. In France it is la LocJie <Ie lliviere. In Germany it is Donir/nnidel, 

 Steinpitzger, or Sleiiibeisscr. In Holland it is the de Bleine Mocliler K raider. 

 In Italy it is the Coh'de flurhde (Fig. 14.2). 



Its distribution is remarkable, being found throughout Europe from Scan- 

 dinavia to Spain. It, however, appears to be absent from Ireland, and. it 

 is probably absent from the White Sea basin in Russia, while beyond the 

 Caucasus it is replaced l)y the C. an rata of Filippi, and C. nohenackeri of Brandt. 

 Though absent from continental Asia, it is recorded by Dr. Giinther from 

 Jai)an. 



