BARBUS COMIZA. 121 



long- rays of the anal fin, which is three times as high as broad. Similar 

 characters, with its larger scales, separate it from the B, plelejus, which 

 is less elongated. It is distinguished from B. caninus, with which 

 Giinther suggests it may, perhaps, prove to be identical, and with which it 

 certainly agrees in colour, chiefly by the higher anal fin, longer caudal, the 

 rounded furrowed back, and stronger form. 



In front of the beginning of the dorsal the greatest height is between 

 one-fifth and one-sixth of the length of the body. The head is one-quarter 

 the length of the body. The anterior barbels are the shorter. There are 

 large brown-black spots on the body, oftentimes touching each other. It 

 varies in size from seven inches to one foot. 



It is found in all the rivers and brooks of the Mittelgebirge in Bohemia, 

 and in the plains of Transylvania and Hungary, but would appear to descend 

 from the Carpathians. Von Siebold records it from the tributaries of the 

 Oder; and Benecke mentions an example from Braunberg, which presented 

 the characters of this species. 



Barbus comiza (STFINDACHNER). 



9 above 



D. 3/89, A. 3/5, V. 2/8, P. 1/16. Scales : 49^51 lat. line. 



5 t) below. 



The body is moderately elongated and compressed. The head is Pike-like, 

 with the snout compressed, much produced, inflated at its extremity; having 

 the cleft of the mouth terminal, and bent somewiiat upward. The lips are 

 thin, the jaws are usually of equal length. The general shape of the head 

 approaches to that of Barlus vulgaris, but differs in the forehead being 

 more compressed, with a straight profile ; and there is a lesser number of 

 scales in the lateral line and above it. The body is four to four and two- 

 fifth times the length of the head. The height of the body does not exceed 

 one-fifth of its length. The eye is placed high on the side of the head ; in 

 the young fish it is one-sixth of the length of the head, while in the adult 

 its relative length is one-ninth. The cheeks are rather compressed. The 

 barbels are slender; the anterior barbel reaches back to the nostril, the 

 posterior barbel extends back to the anterior border of the orbit. 



The anterior half of the dorsal contour is conspicuously convex ; the 

 greatest height is attained in front of the dorsal, and is double the smallest 

 height of the tail. The dorsal fin is opposite the ventral. The first two 

 dorsal rays are very short and delicate, and nearly buried beneath the skin. 

 The visible bony ray is remarkably broad and long, though rather shorter 



