Nothing in the way of salamanders or newts were seen, and I do not 

 believe that they exist in these provinces north of the 35th parallel of latitude. 



Fishes. 



On the expedition very few fish were secured. Constant watch was kept 

 for anything in this line in the mountain streams but with poor success. No 

 doubt the Yellow River would have yielded a fair number of species if we had 

 had the means and opportunity of exploring its muddy depths. However, its 

 commonest denizens are undoubtedly the cat-fish (Silurus asotus) and the carp 

 (Cyprims carpio). Both these species attain a large size, and are eagerly fished 

 for by the natives who transport them to various large centres. 



The cat-fish is usually transported alive. The carp on the other hand 

 are not transported till winter, when they are frozen and covered with a layer 

 of ice to preserve them. 



Cyprinus carassius is the species from which the Chinese and Japanese 

 have bred the gold fish. Specimens (young) were obtained from the streams 

 at Yfl-Hn Fu. This is a comparatively common fish, being found in most lakes, 

 ponds and rivers. It often finds its way to the tables of Chinese gentlemen, 

 but has a muddy taste and is excessively bony. The serving of such a fish 

 at a feast, where such expensive luxuries as bird's nest soup and white 

 fungus are on the menu, speaks volumes for the scarcity of fish in North 

 China. 



In the fish-markets of Hsi-an Fu and Ho-nan Fu I noticed one or two 

 other species of fish, but as I could get no satisfactory statement as to where 

 they came from, I did not consider it worth while to secure specimens. 



Monoptenis javanensis, a species of eel, was secured at Hsi-an Fu where 

 it was commonly found in the black oozy mud of the rice-fields and irrigation 

 ditches. It is remarkable for the total absence of fins. Its gills are verj' 

 small and inconspicuous. It might thus be easily mistaken for a snake. It is 

 of a dark olive-brown colour, with mottling of a darker shade closely dotted 

 all over it. The head is very snake-like. Large specimens were for sale in the 

 market at Hsi-an Fu. 



Misgvrnus anguillicaudatus is an eel-like loach, specimens of which were 

 secured at YU-lin Fu. I noticed larger specimens for sale in the fish-market 

 in Ho-nan Fu and round Hsi-an Fu. As far as I could gather, it is an inhabitant 

 of large rivers and their affluents, and occurs in flat country, but is never seen 

 in mountain streams. 



Cobitis tinia is the only species of fish which is really abundant in the 



K 113 



