Distribution of Freshwater Fish in Algeria. 381 



waters of Lake Bou-Kamira in the Tell and the Salter waters 

 of the Oiiecl Ghir, 



There remain, therefore, eleven species peculiar to the lit- 

 toral, of which the majority occur both in the sea and in 

 fresh water, namely Gohius rhodopterus^ G. paganellus^ 

 Blennius vulgaris^ Atherina Rtssotj Mugil ccphalus^ M. capitOy 

 and Clupeajinta. 



The species found only in the fresh waters of the Tell are 

 Gasterosteus hrachycentrus^ Sahno macrostigma^ Carassius 

 auratus^ and Byngnatlius algeriensis. 



Carassius aicratus, the common goldfish, is not a native of 

 Algeria, although it abounds in the western rivers on the 

 frontier of Morocco. It is probable that its introduction was 

 due to the caprice of one of the sultans of the Tlemcen dynasty; 

 but, wliatever the cause, the fact is that it has been so long 

 and is so widely naturalized, that we have not thought it 

 proper to exclude it from our list, like the carp and tench, 

 which have been in course of naturalization for about twelve 

 years, but which have not yet left the reservoirs where they 

 have been reared for the freer life of the streams or rivers. 



We include also amongst the fish of the Tell the Syngnathus 

 algeriensis, one of the few species of that genus not found in 

 the sea. It has never been observed within 80 kilometres of 

 the coast ; and we therefore consider it purely fluviatile. 



The High Plateaux have hitherto afforded only seven spe- 

 cies, three of which have been previously cited as common to 

 the other regions ; the remaining four are Cyprinodon iherus, 

 Cristicefps argentatus, Tellia apoda, and Leuciscus callensis, 

 which last is also found in the Tell ; Cristiceps argentatus 

 occurs also on the coasts of the Mediterranean ; so that two 

 species only are peculiar to this region ; and of these, one has 

 been found in Spain. The Tellia apoda is a genus and species 

 not represented elsewhere than in Algeria. 



The Sahara is not more rich*; and it is only in the upper 

 part, in the rivers which descend from the High Plateaux, that 

 the two species of barbel are found. In the greater part of 

 this vast region the Avaters are only inhabited by Anguilla 

 vulgaris (found everywhere in Algeria), the Cyprinodon cala- 

 ritanus (also found near Bone), and the two species of Chromisy 

 C. nilotica and C. Tristrami. 



These last three species have been frequently ejected by 

 artesian wells ; and this has formed the subject of numerous 



* It is to be regi'etted that no ichthyologist accompanied General de 

 "Wimpfleu's expedition, in the summer of 1870, to tlie south-west of 

 Algeria. It is probable that the abundant waters of the Oued Gheir 

 would have contributed to swell our list. 



