16 



BARBEL. 



Barbus, Jonston; B. 3, Tit. 1, C. 5, Table 26, f. 6, 



and Table 31, f. 11. 

 "Willoughbt; p. 259, Table Q 2. 

 Oyprinus Barbus, Linmus. Bloch; pi. 18. Donovan; pi. 29. 



" " Jenyns; Manual, p. 404. 



Barbus vulgaris, Cuvier. Fleming; Br. Animals, p. 185. 



" fiuviatilis, Yarkell; Br. Fishes, vol. i, p. 367. 



The Barbel has not a few of the habits of the Carp, and 

 much that has been said of the structure of the organs of the 

 senses and the faculties of the last-named fish, will also apply to 

 the present species. The barbs at the mouth are even more 

 developed than in the Carp, and the high condition of its organ 

 of hearing has been shewn by its speedily quitting a place where 

 much noise has been made. But its activity is greater than the 

 Carp is capable of; as indeed might be judged from the more 

 slender form of its body; and in the genial warmth of summer, 

 when these fishes assemble in considerable troops, they delight 

 to stem the course of the more rapid portion of the river they 

 frequent, and more especially when night has set in they become 

 lively, with an evident display of a love of sport. But it is 

 otherwise when cold weather advances; on the occurrence of 

 which they retire into the deeper and stiller portion of the 

 stream, where the high banks afford them shelter; and there, 

 in some secret pool, instead of being sly and watchful, they 

 become so dull and stupid as to show no sensibility of danger, 

 even to such a degree as to suffer themselves to be caught with 

 the hand by any one who will attempt to do it. I have been 

 informed that at Oxford they have been taken thus by diving; 

 and the numbers sometimes huddled together in favourite 

 situations may be judged from the fact, that Jonston refers to 

 Albertus as a witness that in the Danube in autumn ten cart- 

 loads have been caught with the hand at one time. 



