8o GENERA AND SPECIES. 



Barbus. Plate xxii. CYPRINIDJE. 



172. vidgaris, BARBEL. Two pairs of barbules. 



The dorsal fin has 3 or 4 spines and 12 or 13 rays, the anal has 

 2 or 3 spines and 5 rays, and the caudal has 20 rays ; in the 

 pectorals there are 18 rays, and in the ventrals 9 or 10. The u ;>rsal 

 begins over the ventrals in the middle of the back, and the tip 

 of the pectorals is half-way between their base and the base of the 

 ventrals. The anal is mid-way between the pectorals and the 

 caudal ; the pectorals are low on the body and the anal is narrow. 

 There are 7 scales between the base of the ventrals and the lateral 

 line. The lateral line has from 52 to 70 scales. The back is curved, 

 and the abdomen nearly straight ; the snout is long and the lips are 

 thick and leathery. The colour is olivaceous, the scales being pale 

 yellow edged with greenish black, the tint becoming lighter on the 

 sides and underparts. The dorsal fin has a dark edge ; the other 

 fins are reddish. The Barbel lives at the bottom of gently flowing 

 rivers, generally in the middle third between the source and the sea. 

 and searches for its food routing about among the stones. It feeds 

 on vegetable matter, and on worms and insects, and other aquatic 

 animals. It reaches 24 inches in length, perhaps more. It is very 

 quick of hearing, and often makes a noise when caught, and growls 

 under the water. It bites with a double knock, and tries to break the 

 line by striking it with its tail. 



Belone. Plate xi. SCOMBRESOCID&. 



87. vulgaris, GARFISH. No finlets; tail forked, lower lobe slightly 

 the longer. 



The dorsal fin is opposite the anal, and placed in the tail third 

 of the body ; it has from 17 to 20 rays, the anal having from 21 to 

 23, and the caudal 15 or 16 ; in the pectorals there are 13, and in 

 the ventrals 6. The jaws are lengthened into a beak, the lower jaw 

 being the longer. It is soft at its outer end, the upper jaw being 

 sharp and pointed, so that it can be driven into the prey. In colour 

 the Garfish is bluish green on the back and silvery below. It is 

 generally gregarious, and swims near the surface, often on the very 

 top of the water, and occasionally springing over the waves. The 

 lower jaw is always long, but in the young the upper jaw is very 

 short and increases in length as the fish becomes mature until there 

 is not very much difference between them. There is a Garfish on 

 record that was a yard long, but about half that length is the usual 

 size when found, as it often is, among the mackerel shoals. 



Blennius. Plate x. BLENNIIDM. 

 Eye spot on first dorsal 



79. ocellaris, BUTTERFLY BLENNY. First spine long; a tentacle 

 above the eye. 



No eye spot on first dorsal 

 8. pholis, SHANNY. No tentacle above the eye. 



