594 FISHES. 



labial fold. Barbels two (rarely four), or entirely absent. Anal 

 scales not conspicuously enlarged. Pharyngeal teeth compressed, 

 truncated, 5 or 4. 3. 3.-2. 3. 4 or 5. 



Characteristic of the fauna of Western Asia ; one species 

 from Abyssinia. Of the fifteen si^ecies known C. damascina 

 deserves to be specially mentioned, being abundant in the 

 Jordan and other rivers of Syria and Asia Minor. 



Barbus. — Scales of small, moderate, or large size. Dorsal 

 fin generally with the (third) longest simple ray ossified, enlarged, 

 and frequently serrated ; never, or only exceptionally, with more 

 than nine branched rays, commencing opposite or nearly opposite 

 to the root of the ventral fin. Eyes without adipose eyelid. Anal 

 fin frequently very high. Mouth arched, Avithout inner folds, 

 inferior or anterior ; lips without horny covering. Barbels 

 short, four, two, or none. Anal scales not enlarged. Pharyngeal 

 teeth 5. 4 or 3. 3 or 2.-2 or 3. 3 or 4. 5. Snout but rarely 

 with tubercles or pore-like grooves. 



No other genus of Cyprinoids is composed of so many 

 species as the genus of " Barbels," about 200 being known 

 from the tropical and temperate parts of the Old World ; it 

 is not represented in the New World. Although the species 

 differ much from each other in the form of the body, number 

 of barbels, size of the scales, strength of the first dorsal ray 

 or spine, etc., the transition between the extreme forms is so 

 perfect that no further generic subdivision should be at- 

 tempted. Some attain a length of six feet, whilst others 

 never exceed a length of two inches. The most notew^orthy 

 are the large Barbels of the Tigris (B. siibquincunciatus, B. 

 esocinus, B. scJicich, B. slimycyi) ; the common Barbel of 

 Central Europe and Great Britain {B. vulgaris) ; the "Bynni" 

 of the Nile {B. hynni) ; B. canis from the Jordan ; the 

 " Mahaseer" of the mountain streams of India {B. mosal), pro- 

 bably the largest of all species, the scales of which are some- 

 times as large as the palm of a hand. The small, large-scaled 



