THE BARBEL 119g 
Of this great genus only one species inhabits British waters, 
namely, Barbus vulgaris, the common barbel, and even that is 
restricted to the valleys of the Thames, the Trent, and a few 
streams in the eastern counties. It does not occur in the 
Severn, nor has it been found in Scotland or Ireland, a 
distribution which coincides with the ancient geography of our 
Distribution OW Country, when the Thames and the Trent 
istribution : : - : 
of the united with the Rhine in forming one great north- 
aa ward-flowing river. The common barbel still 
abounds in the Rhine, the Danube, and almost all the other 
rivers of Central Europe, and many European species are 
scarcely entitled to rank higher than as local variations from 
the type. 
The body of the barbel is elongated, being in length fully 
five times as much as in depth, nearly cylindrical, and, except 
towards the tail, not laterally compressed, like most of the Carp 
Family outside the genus Barbus. The head is elongated, witha 
projecting fleshy upper lip and small eyes set high up and far 
back. Four barbels depend from the upper lip, two from the 
fore-part of the snout, and two from the angles of the mouth, 
and it is from these conspicuous appendages (one can scarcely 
call them ornaments) that it takes its English name. In all 
European languages this cyprinoid is “the bearded fish.” The 
dorsal fin is short but high, and is carried jauntily erect, 
the bony ray being serrated on its posterior surface. 
The caudal fin is deeply emarginate or swallow-tailed, with 
even-pointed lobes ; the pectoral and ventral fins are bold and 
well-shaped, and the anal fin is nearly as high as the dorsal, and 
is set very far back. Altogether this fish is well equipped with 
organs of propulsion, which enable him to make a grand fight 
when hooked. The scales are small ; the lateral line is nearly 
straight, and running about mid-way between back and belly. 
The back is olive-green, melting into pale golden tints on the 
flanks ; the cheeks are golden, the head and gill-covers being 
speckled with black, which sometimes extends to part of the 
Appearance, 
