SPECIES OF CARP. 197 



adapted than those of any other family, unless it be the young 

 fry of the Salmonida, while in their Parr form. 



In lieu of those genera, however, which exist in England and 

 on the continent of Europe, but entirely lack American repre- 

 sentatives, several prevail here which are totally wanting in 

 Europe, as the genus Labeo, the genus Catastomus, Suckers, or 

 Sucking Carp, many varieties of which are found throughout 

 the waters of the United States and Canada, from north to 

 south, and many species of Hydrargyra, analogous to the 

 European Minnow, 



Several of these last species are of great interest to the 

 naturalist, the Catastomi, or Suckers especially, from the sin- 

 gular formation of their mouths, which are situated far below 

 and posterior to the tip of the snout, and furnished with 

 crimped and pendant labials, adapted for the deglutition of 

 vegetable substances and even of mud ; but to the sportsman 

 they are of no account, as they do not take the bait, and are 

 worth little as bait themselves, while, by the epicure, they are 

 justly held in utter scorn. 



The truth is, that nowhere under the canopy of heaven are 

 the genus Cyprinus worthy to be accounted Sporting Fishes, and 

 nowhere are they eatable — not even excepting the Carp and 

 Tench of Europe — unless with the aid and appliances of a most 

 careful cuisine, and by dint of stewing in claret, with condi- 

 ments and spices, garlic and forcemeat balls, and anchovies, 

 such as might convert a kid glove, or the sole of a reasonably 

 tender India-rubber shoe into delicious esculents. 



The shyness of the Carp in biting, the great size of the 

 Bream and Barbel, and even in some waters of the Chub, 



