248 THE FRESH-WATER FISHES OF EUROPE. 



rendered congenially dirty to his taste. " In Germany and Austria it is 

 regarded as a weather prophet, and sometimes is called the Weather-fish, 

 because it usually comes to the surface about twenty-four hours before bad 

 weather, and moves about with unusual energy ; this habit has led to its being 

 sometimes confined in a glass globe as an animated barometer. 



It swallows air, and is said to expel it again with noise. It seldom takes a 

 bait, and is commonly caught with nets or baskets. Its flesh is white and 

 flabby, having an odour and taste which suggest the stagnant pool; but 

 Benecke asserts that when kept for some days in running water it becomes 

 well-flavoured. It lives on insects, worms, fish-spawn, and organic matter 

 contained in the mud which it swallows. 



It leaves its hiding-place in the mud in spring to spawn. It lays 140,000 

 brown eggs on water-plants, in April and May in Western Europe, and from 

 April to June in Eastern Europe. 



Its growth is rapid, and it is tenacious of life ; and, probably, on account of 

 the narrow gill-aperture, can remain a long time in dry places, being some- 

 times found in the mud of dried-up ditches. It inhabits Holland, Belgium, 

 the eastern border of France, North and South Germany, and is found in all 

 fresh waters in Russia, except in the basin of the White Sea, and the region 

 beyond the Caucasus. In Switzerland it is met with in Lake Constance. Dr. 

 Giinther regards Misgurnus anyuillicaudatus (Castor) as a representative of 

 this species in China, Japan, and Formosa, differing only in colour, shorter 

 pectoral fin, and other minor characteristics. 



GENUS: NemachihlS (VAN HASSELT). 



This genus, which comprises about forty species, is characterised by having 

 only six barbels, none of which are on the mandible. It is closely allied to 

 Misgurnus ; has no erectile sub-orbital spine ; has the air-bladder enclosed in a 

 bony capsule, and the dorsal fin opposite to the ventral. Some of the species 

 have more than twelve rays in the dorsal fin ; others fewer, and the latter are 

 defined according as the body is striped with brown bands or narrow yellow 

 bars, or is without any transverse bars at all. Some of these latter species 

 have the caudal fin rounded, while in others it is distinctly emargiiiate. The 

 genus ranges over the Malay Islands and Asia, especially Tibet, India, Syria, 

 one species being found in the Lake of Galilee. The only European 

 species is Nemachilus larbatulus. 



