X CYPRIN1DJE. 



of stomachs as in quadrupeds of the ruminating order ; as indeed 

 rumination seems to take place in some of them, in which the 

 stomach is of the more simple form. Professor Owen remarks 

 that the muscular action of a fish's stomach consists of vermicular 

 contraction, creeping slowly in succession from the upper orifice 

 to the lower, and impressing a two-fold gyratory motion on 

 the contents; so that while some portions are proceeding to the 

 lower, other portions are returning towards the upper; but 

 only portions of digested food are permitted to pass into the 

 intestine. Coarser portions of the food return into the gullet, 

 and are brought again within the sphere of the pharyngeal 

 jaws. The fishes which afford the best evidence of this 

 ruminating action are the Cyprinoids — Carp, Tench, Bream. 

 In them the successive regurgitations of the contents of the 

 stomach produce actions of the pharyngeal jaws as the half- 

 bruised food comes into contact with them, and excite the 

 singular tumefaction and subsidence of the irritable palate, often 

 termed the tongue, as portions of the regurgitated food are 

 pressed upon it. 



The species of this family which are inhabitants of the warmer 

 portions of the world, and especially those which are described 

 by Mr. Maclellan, as found in India, (in the second part of the 

 nineteenth volume of "Asiatic Researches,") are very numerous; 

 and so closely are they joined together in affinity of form and 

 habits that much difficulty has been experienced in arranging 

 them in lesser sections or genera. In doing this, Cuvier appears 

 to lay much stress on the length or shortness of the single 

 dorsal fin, or on its situation forward or behind; and in a less 

 degree on the presence or absence of barbels at the mouth, 

 which are organs we might suppose to be of importance, as 

 being fitted to some particular habits in these fishes, as we know 

 them to be in the family of Codfishes. Mr. Maclellan remarks 

 on this subject, that in none of the Barbels, Cirrhins, or 

 Gudgeons, nor in any of the groups which feed on plants, 

 shell-fish, or other objects obtained by scraping or rooting in 

 mud, do we find anything like a soft or sensible tongue, the 

 office of which is in many cases better performed by the barbs; 

 which organs are soft and capable of being contracted or 

 lengthened, as well as the loose muscular appendages to which 

 thev are attached. 



