CHAPTER VIII 



THE BAR'BEL AND THE GUDGEON 



The Barbel — Distribution — Appearance — Habits — Angling for Barbel — The 

 Gudgeon — Habits and Distribution — Angling for Gudgeon — Gudgeon 

 as Food. 



The Barbel {Barb us vulgaris) 



Teeth. 

 Pharyngeal, in two 



series. 



Fin Formula (very variable). 

 Dorsal : 3 bony and 8 soft rays. 

 Rectoral : i bony and 16 soft rays. 

 Vefitral : 2 bony and 7 or 8 soft rays. 

 Anal: 3 bony and 8 soft rays. 

 Caudal : 17 to 19 soft rays. 



The well-defined genus of Bar bus is the largest in the Carp 

 Family, comprising nearly two hundred species from the tropical 

 and temperate regions of the Eastern Hemisphere. On the 

 American continent, strange to say, it is not represented. 

 Naturalists have felt the inconvenience of including so many 

 species in a single genus ; but Dr. Giinther has wisely refrained 

 from indulging them by further subdivision, so consistent and 

 uniform is the transition between- the extreme forms. The 

 mighty mahaseer [Barbus mosal) of the mountain rivers of India 

 and the neighbouring countries, well known to anglers because 

 of the noble sport it affords, is probably the largest of the 

 genus, running to as much as 1 50 lb. in weight, with scales as 

 large as the palm of one's hand ; while certain other species 



never exceed two inches in length. 



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