THE LOACH. 133 



The so-called Pomeranian Bream is regarded by Dr. Giintlier as a hybrid between Abramis brama 

 and Leuciscus rutilus, having more in common with the Roach than the Bream. 



THE BLEAK.* 



This is a fish of much more elongated body than the foregoing. Its lower jaw projects beyond the 

 upper jaw, which is protractile. The pharyngeal teeth are in two series, and hooked ; behind the 

 ventral tins the belly is compressed into a sharp edge across which the scales do not extend. It is a 

 very active little fish, rarely growing to a greater length than seven inches ; its back varies from a 

 greenish to a brownish tinge, but the rest of the body is silvery-white and shining. This appearance 

 is due to a pigment which exists on the inner surface of the scales, and is like that which gives bril- 

 liance to the Whitebait and Roach. This pigment has been utilised in the manufacture of artificial 

 pearls, and in Paris is known as Essence de FOrieut. The scales are scraped off, washed, and triturated, 

 when the pigment falls to the bottom of the water. Ammonia is added to separate the animal 

 matter. The substance is then mixed with fish gelatine, and spread on beads of glass or plaster. At 

 first the artificial pearls are almost, if not quite, equal in beauty to real pearls, but the pigment soon, 

 comes off on to the neck of the lady who adorns herself with them. In England the Bleak pigment was 

 formerly largely used to wash over the cavities of thin glass beads, which were afterwards strengthened 

 by being filled with wax. The use of Bleak for these pm-poses originated in Europe with the 

 Venetians, in the sixteenth century, but the industry was prohibited by the Government. It was 

 probably derived from China, where the art has been practised from time immemorial. 



The East Indian genus, Osteobrama, has a large serrated dorsal spine, and a bipartite air-bladder. 

 Chanodichthys is a genus from China and Formosa, which has the air-bladder tripartite, and, accord- 

 ing to Dr. Giinther, in one species at least has no liver. Chela is a genus with slender pharyngeal 

 teeth, represented by many species in the East Indies. 



The thirteenth group is named Homalopteriiia. It is chiefly distinguished by having no air- 

 bladder. It includes four genera, which are from the East Indian region. The species are small. 



The fourteenth and last group of the Cyprinidse, named Cobitina, lias the air-bladder more 

 or less completely enveloped in a bony sheath. The mouth is surrounded by not fewer than six 

 barbels. The scales, when present, are small, and are sometimes entirely absent. In the genus 

 Misgurnus the barbels are from ten to twelve in number, and the scales are more prominent than in 

 other members of the group. The genus Nemachilus, however, has only six barbels; the best known 

 example in Britain is the Loach (Nemachilus barbatuhis). The air-bladder in this fish is small, and 

 placed immediately above the entrance to the gullet in bony capsules, situate on each side of the 

 bodies of the first two vertebrae. These capsules are circular, smooth on the inside, and have a slit on 

 their outer margin, and are probably connected in function with the organ of hearing. Yarrell 

 remarks that the parietal bones in the median line of the skull have an interspace between them, 

 which in the living fish is occupied by cartilage. The length of the fish at its largest may be as much as- 

 five inches. It is covered with a slimy mucus secretion. It is widely distributed in Britain and Central 

 Europe, but is not found in Scandinavia or Denmark. It frequents brooks and small shallow rapid streams,, 

 hiding itself under stones. In stormy weather this fish rises to the surface, apparently in expectation 

 of the feast of insects then to be found on the surface of the water. The flesh of the Loach is every- 

 where esteemed as one of the greatest delicacies. All the members of the Loach family, especially 

 this species, the Spinous Loach, and the Misgurnus fossilis, possess the remarkable habit of using 

 the intestines as a supplementary breathing organ. Atmospheric air is swallowed, and, after passing 

 through the intestines, is found to be largely charged with carbonic acid, but Siebold states that 

 this method of respiration in only habitually used when the fish are in muddy waters. The caudal fin 

 is truncate. The dorsal fin is in the middle of the body, and both these fins are marked with dai k 

 spots, arranged in cross bands. The back and sides of the body are marked with dark brown. 



There are many species of this genus, ranging from the Lake of Galilee through Asia Minor and 

 the Indian region. The Nemachilus stolickre is found in the Lake Tsomoriri, in Tibet, at a height 

 of 15,500 feet above the level of the sea. 



The Spinous Loach (Cobitis tania) is a rarer fish in England, and is unknown in Ireland. It 



* Allurnns hicidns. 



