SILURID.E. CYPRINIDJS; CARP. 69 



some wounds. There is, however, no sufficient reason to believe 

 that these are venomous. A singular point in the organisation 

 of these Fishes consists in the existence of a chain of small bones 

 connecting the air-bladder with the ear. In many cases the se- 

 cond dorsal fin exhibits tht adipose structure characteristic of 

 the Salmon family. The Siluridae inhabit the fresh waters, and 

 are generally confined to warm climates. The common Silure, 

 however, is a native of Europe, and occurs abundantly in some 

 of the large rivers of the continent. It is a large Fish, measur- 

 ing from six to eight feet in length. The Malapterurus, remark- 

 able for its electrical powers, has been already noticed ( 563). 



631*. The CTPRINID^E, or Carps, have the mouth small, and 

 the jaws toothless ; but the pharyngeal bones are armed with 

 strong teeth, which work against some horny plates supported 

 upon a process of the lower part of the skull. The body is 

 clothed with scales of variable size ; the dorsal fin is single, and 

 the air-bladder, which is divided into two parts by a constriction, 

 is connected with the ear, as in the Siluridce, by a series of small 

 bones. They are inhabitants of the fresh waters, and. are exceed- 

 ingly numerous both in species and individuals, and appear to 

 be distributed over most parts of the world. They feed upon 

 aquatic plants, worms, and insects ; the plants constituting their 

 principal diet during the summer, when their flesh is very indif- 

 ferent. A few of them also feed upon small Fishes. The com- 

 mon Carp does not appear to be a native of this country, but to 



FIG. 3.i3. HARBEL. 



have been introduced from the South of Europe ; it thrives very 

 well, however, in the most sluggish parts of rivers, and still bet- 



