84 FISH GALLERY. 



[Case 19.] The Characinidce (Case 19) are confined to the fresh waters of 

 Africa and tropical America, where they replace the Cyprinoids. 

 The family includes herbivorous as well as strictly carnivorous 

 forms ; some are toothless, whilst others possess a most formidable 

 dentition. Many are provided with an adipose dorsal fin, like the 

 Salmonidce and some Siluridce. Among the carnivorous forms, 

 Myletes (Caribe) and Hydroajon are most destructive to other 

 fishes, and are known to attack and annoy even bathers. 



iClSGS 



20 21.1 The Cyprinidce, or family of Carps (Cases 20, 21), is the most 



numerously represented in the fresh waters of the Old World and 

 North America. Most feed on vegetable and animal substances ; 

 a few only are exclusively vegetable-feeders. The absence of teeth 

 in the jaws is compensated by the development of large teeth on 

 the pharyngeal bones. The Carp (Cyprinus carp'io), originally a 



Pharyngeal bones of the Chub. 



native of the East, abounds in a wild state in China, where it 

 has been domesticated for many centuries; thence it was trans- 

 ported to Germany and Sweden, and the year 1614 is assigned 

 as the date of its introduction into England. Two allied and 

 common species are the Crucian Carp (C. carassius) and the Gold- 

 fish (C. auratus). The Catla of the Ganges (Catla buchanani) is 

 one of the largest Cyprinoids, growing to a length of more than 

 three feet, and esteemed as food. The Barbels (Barbus) are a genus 

 very numerous in species, inhabiting the temperate and tropical parts 

 of the Old World ; one species is British (B. vulgaris) ; B. mosal, or 

 " Mahaseer " (fig. 72) of the mountain-streams of India, is probably 

 the largest species of the genus, the scales being sometimes as large 

 as the palm of the hand. The White-fish (Leuciscus) are also 





