ABDOMINAL MALACOPTERYGII. 121 



ORDER II. ABDOMINAL MALACOPTERYGII. 



The fishes of this Order have the ventrals situated 

 under the belly, behind the pectorals, and not 

 attached to the bones of the shoulder. It is a nu- 

 merous Order, including most of the fresh-water 

 Fishes, and some marine ones also. 



FAM. I. CYPRINID^E. 



A mouth but slighty cleft ; weak jaws, usually 

 destitute of teeth ; strong teeth in the throat ; few 

 gill rays ; and a body well covered with scales, are 

 the more obvious distinctions of this family. 



Cyprmusf the Carp. 



The Carps are a large genus, widely dispersed in 

 the fresh-waters of both Continents. They have but 

 one dorsal fin ; the scales are usually large ; the 

 tongue is smooth; and there is on the palate a 

 thick, soft, and singularly irritable substance, called 

 " a Carp's tongue." The want of teeth in the jaws 

 is compensated by the powerful teeth of the throat, 

 adapted to masticate and grind the food ; the more 



* From the Island of Cyprus ? 

 VOL. II. G 



