BARBEL. 265 



rays ; and is situated nearer the head than the tail. The 

 scales are large. The back is green, and the sides and 

 belly are silvery. 



19. CARP TRIBE. 



The fishes of the present tribe prey chiefly upon worms, 

 insects, and other fish. Some of them are migratory, 

 and most of them spawn about the month of April or 

 May. 



Common Carp. These fish were originally introduced 

 to this country from the continent, about three hundred 

 years ago. They are, however, now found in several of 

 our still and gently-flowing streams. In ponds they rea- 

 dily breed and multiply, and are found very useful for 

 the supply of the table. They are so shy and cunning, 

 as seldom to be caught except in nets ; and so tenacious 

 are they of life, that, wrapped up in wet moss, they 

 have been kept out of water for more than a fortnight. 

 They are long-lived, having in many instances been 

 known to attain the great age of a hundred years and 

 upwards. 



The average weight of these fish is four or five pounds, 

 but they have sometimes been known to weigh so much as 

 twenty pounds. Their body is deep, and the scales very 

 large. On each side of the mouth there is ash ort beard, 

 and above each of these is another. The anal fin has 

 nine rays, and the second ray of the dorsal fin is serrated 

 at the back. When just taken out of the water, these fish 

 are of a fine greenish golden hue. 



Barbel. Inhabitants principally of deep rivers, the 



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