Chara- 

 cinidce. 



102 FISH GALLERY. 



have a single spine each. The great majority of the fresh-water 

 fishes of the world belong to this suborder, the principal forms 

 included being the Characinids, the Electric Eel, the Carps and 

 Cat-fishes. 



The Characinids are fresh-water fishes occurring in Central 

 Africa and South America, with the jaws usually well armed with 

 teeth, which differ much in shape and arrangement in the genera 

 comprised. The body is covered with scales, an adipose dorsal fin 

 is often present, and there are no barbels. 

 Tiger-fish. The Tiger-fishes, as the species of Hijdrocyon (306) are called, 

 are among the most formidable of the Characinidse. They grow 

 to the size of the Salmon, and on account of the powerful jaws 

 armed with strong teeth, visible when the mouth is closed, and on 

 account of their vicious disposition, they are justly dreaded. 

 The Tiger-fishes are found in the rivers and lakes of tropical 

 Africa, and in the Nile district are known as Kelb-el-Bahr or 

 Dogs of the Water. 

 Cariba. The Piranha or Cariba, as the species of Serrasalmo (313) and 



Myletes (308) of South America are called, are not less ferocious 

 than the Tiger-fishes of Africa. Their bite has been compared to 

 the cut of a razor. They abound in some rivers and bite pieces 

 of flesh out of the legs of persons entering the water ; the smell 

 of blood attracts others in great numbers, and the situation of a 

 person swimming becomes very critical. They do not exceed two 

 feet in length. One of their principal distinguishing features is 

 the serration of the belly. 



A skull of Salminus (311) is exhibited to show the cheek-plates 

 and the characters of the dentition. Salminus is an American 

 genus, the largest species being the " Dorado " of the Spaniards, 

 Salminus orbignianus, which grows to a length of three feet 

 and is of predaceous habits, pursuing other fishes moving in shoals. 

 Macrodon and Erythrinus (305) of tropical America are examples 

 of Characinids not possessing the adipose dorsal fin. 

 Nile The Moon-fish of the Nile, Citharinus geoffroyi, is represented 



by a skeleton (314), which shows the feebleness of the dentition 

 of this herbivorous fish, and the deep, compressed form of its 

 body. The fish is often depicted on the monuments of the 

 ancient Egyptians. 



Moon- 



