Nothing in the way of salamanders or newts were seen, and I do not 
believe that they exist in these provinces north of the 35th parallel of latitude. 
Fishes. 
On the expedition very few fish were secured. Constant watch was kept 
for anything in this line in the mountain streams but with poor success. No 
doubt the Yellow River would have yielded a fair number of species if we had 
had the means and opportunity of exploring its muddy depths. However, its 
commonest denizens are undoubtedly the cat-fish (Silurus asotus) and the carp 
(Cyprinus carpio). Both these species attain a large size, and are eagerly fished 
for by the natives who transport them to various large centres. 
The cat-fish is usually transported alive. The carp on the other hand 
are not transported till winter, when they are frozen and covered with a layer 
of ice to preserve them. 
Cyprinus carassius is the species from which the Chinese and Japanese 
have bred the gold fish. Specimens (young) were obtained from the streams 
at Yii-lin Fu. This is a comparatively common fish, being found in most lakes, 
ponds and rivers. It often finds its way to the tables of Chinese gentlemen, 
but has a muddy taste and is excessively bony. The serving of such a fish 
at a feast, where such expensive luxuries as bird’s nest soup and white 
fungus are on the menu, speaks volumes for the scarcity of fish in North 
China. 
In the fish-markets of Hsi-an Fu and Ho-nan Fu I noticed one or two 
other species of fish, but as I could get no satisfactory statement as to where 
they came from, I did not consider it worth while to secure specimens. 
Monopterus javanensis, a species of eel, was secured at Hsi-an Fu where 
it was commonly found in the black oozy mud of the rice-fields and irrigation 
ditches. It is remarkable for the total absence of fins. Its gills are very 
small and inconspicuous. It might thus be easily mistaken for a snake. It is 
of a dark olive-brown colour, with mottling of a darker shade closely dotted 
all over it. The head is very snake-like. Large specimens were for sale in the 
market at Hsi-an Fu. 
Misgurnus anguillicaudatus is an eel-like loach, specimens of which were 
secured at Yii-lin Fu. I noticed larger specimens for sale in the fish-market 
in Ho-nan Fu and round Hsi-an Fu. As far as I could gather, it is an inhabitant 
of large rivers and their affluents, and occurs in flat country, but is never seen 
in mountain streams. 
Cobitis tinia is the only species of fish which is really abundant in the 
H 113 
