352 BARBEL, DESCRIPTION OF. 



THE BARBEL. Cyprinus barbus. 



This bluish-white carp is a lazy, wallowing gen- 

 tleman, and the Launcelot Gobbo of the sub- 

 aqueous pantries and cellars. The sound of the 

 smacking of his lips tell you how fond he is of a 

 good morsel. He acknowledges its receipt by the 

 best music he can make, and yet what a shame it is 

 that food should be thrown away upon this rather 

 fine, though somewhat lubberly-looking, animal ! 

 So it is, however, and let him swallow good things 

 ever so swiftly; let him be worm or gentle- 

 crammed, his flesh is never the better for it, and 

 his muscular tissues remain so flaccid and all his 

 fibres so flabby, even whils| rioting in the midst 

 of abundance, that, if incontinently afterwards 



