THE CARP TRIBE 2835 



Representing a genus by itself, the European tench ( Tinea vulgaris) 

 differs from the whitefish by the presence of a small pair of barbels to 

 the mouth; the pharyngeal teeth forming a single series. The small scales are 

 deeply imbedded in the thick skin; there is a complete lateral line; both the dorsal 

 and anal fins are short; and the caudal, instead of having the markedly forked form 

 characteristic of the roach and its allies, is but slightly emarginate. The terminally- 

 situated mouth has its lips moderately developed. Whereas whitefish prefer clear 

 running streams, the tench frequents ponds, lakes, and other more or less stagnant 

 water; its color, which is sometimes bronzy golden, and in other cases olive green, 

 with a more or less blackish tinge, is stated to vary with the purity or otherwise of 

 the water in which it lives. Tench always keep near or in the mud, beneath which 

 they entirely bury themselves during the colder months, after the fashion of so many 

 members of the family. A good tench will weigh four pounds, but examples of five 

 pounds, and even over, are not very uncommon. It is probably owing to the abund- 

 ant supply of mucus secreted by the skin that the tench was considered to be 

 endowed with healing powers. Tench are exceedingly prolific, and as they bear 

 transport easily, are admirably adapted for stocking ponds. 



By this name may be distinguished a small genus, containing seven 

 species, from Continental Europe and Western Asia, and differing 

 from the two foregoing by the margin of the lower jaw forming a cutting edge, 

 overlain with a brown horny layer; one of the species (Chondrostoma nasus) being 

 represented in the lower figure of the illustration on p. 2839. These fishes are fur- 

 ther characterized by the medium or small size of the scales, the termination of the 

 lateral line in the middle of the deepest part of the tail, by the dorsal fin having 

 not more than nine branched rays, and being situated opposite the root of the pel- 

 vies, and also by the rather elongate anal bearing ten or more rays. The mouth is 

 inferior in position, and transverse; and there are no barbels. Commonly known 

 in France as le nez, the figured species does not usually exceed eighteen inches in 

 length, with a weight of about three pounds. It is generally found in deep water, 

 where it feeds on various vegetable substances, but more especially on the green 

 confervoid growth covering submerged stones, which is neatly mown off by a 

 scythe- like action of the horny margin of the transverse lower lip. 



The small roach-like fish known as the bitterling (Rhodeus amarus} , 

 of which two examples are shown on the left side of the accompany- 

 ing illustration, is the European representative of four genera of small carp mainly 

 characteristic of Eastern Asia and Japan, and having the following distinctive 

 features. The anal fin is of moderate length, and extends forward to below the 

 line of the dorsal; the lateral line, when fully developed, runs on or near the mid- 

 dle of the tail; and there is but a single series of pharyngeal teeth. The bitterling, 

 which belongs to a genus characterized by the incomplete lateral line, and the small 

 size of the scales, is locally distributed in Central Europe, where it is not unfre- 

 quently found in hot springs. It is one of the smallest of European fishes, the 

 females being generally about one and one-half inches in length, while the males do 

 not exceed twice this size. The name is derived from the bitter taste of the flesh; 

 and it is only perch and eels that will take this fish when used as a bait. In com- 



