404 PISCES (OSSEI) MALACOPT. [CYPRINUS. 



the entire fish : after a few years the red tint is assumed, which becomes more 

 brilliant with age : sometimes red from birth, or before acquiring the silvery hue : 

 tins scarlet : irides golden. 



A native of China. According to Pennant, first introduced into England about 

 the year 1691, but not generally known till 1728. Is now completely naturalized, 

 and breeds freely in ponds in many parts of the country. Spawns in May. 



(2. BARBUS, Cuv.) 

 83. C. Barbus, Linn. (Barbel.) 



C. Barbus, Linn. Syst. Nat. torn. i. p. 525. Block, Ichth. pi. 18. 

 Don. Brit. Fish. vol. 11. pi. 29. Turt. Brit. Faun. p. 107. 

 Barbus vulgaris, Flem. Brit. An. p. 185. Barbel, Will Hist. 

 Pise. p. 259. tab. Q. 2. f. 1. Penn. Brit. Zool vol. HI. p. 357. 

 pi. 71. Id. (Edit. 1812.) vol. in. p. 472. pi. 82. Bowd. Brit. fr. 

 wat. Fish. Draw. no. 9. Yarr. Brit. Fish. vol. i. p. 321. Barbeau 

 commun, Cuv. Reg. An. torn. H. p. 272. 



LENGTH. From two to three feet. 



DESCRIPT. (Form.) Rather elongated; the back but little elevated : 

 dorsal line continuous with the profile, and falling in one gradual slope 

 to quite the end of the snout : greatest depth beneath the commence- 

 ment of the dorsal, equalling between one-fifth and one-sixth of the 

 entire length: head one-fifth of the same; of a somewhat oblong form: 

 snout rather pointed, and advancing considerably beyond the lower jaw: 

 upper lip fleshy, furnished with four barbules ; two at the corners of the 

 mouth, and two shorter ones in front of the nose : eyes small ; nostrils 

 placed near them: lateral line nearly straight; its course along the 

 middle : head smooth ; scales on the body rather small, firmly attached 

 to the skin, finely striated, with their free edges slightly scolloped : dorsal 

 short, commencing at about the middle point between the end of the 

 snout and the base of the caudal ; first ray very short, second half the 

 length of the third; this last strong and bony, with sharp serratures 

 at the edges; succeeding rays all soft and branched, and gradually 

 decreasing to the last, which is only half the length of the third: 

 anal also short, commencing in a line with the tip of the dorsal when 

 laid back ; third ray longest ; all the rays soft, and, except the first two, 

 branched: caudal forked for more than half its length: pectorals shorter 

 than the head: ventrals attached beneath the middle of the dorsal, a 

 little shorter than the pectorals; in the axilla of each a long narrow 

 pointed scale : 



B. 3; D. 3/9; A. 8; C. 20; P. 16; V. 9. 



(Colours.) Back and sides olivaceous brown, with more or less of a 

 golden-yellow lustre ; belly white : irides golden-yellow : dorsal brown, 

 tinged with red; anal and ventrals reddish yellow; caudal deep pur- 

 plish red; pectorals pale brown. 



Common in rapid streams and rivers, especially those with a hard 

 gravelly bottom. Lives in society. Conceals itself during the day in hol- 

 lows and amongst large stones :' roves about at night in quest of food. 

 At the approach of Winter retires down the river to deep water. Food 

 aquatic mollusca, worms, and small fish. Spawns in May and June; 

 but, according to Bloch, is not capable of breeding till towards the 

 fourth or fifth year. Grows quickly, and attains a large size : has been 

 known to weigh as much as eighteen pounds. 



