604 FISHES. 



" Bleak " are numerous in Europe and Western Asia, 

 fifteen species being known. The common Bleak (A. albur- 

 nus) is found north of the Alps only, and represented by 

 another species {A. alburnellus, " Alborella," or " Avola") in 

 Italy. 



Of the other genera referred to this group, Zeucaspius 

 and Pelecus belong to the European Fauna ; Felotrophus is 

 East African ; all the others occur in the East Indies or the 

 temperate parts of Asia, viz. Basborichthys, Elopichthys, 

 Acanthobrama (Western Asia), Ostedbrama, Chanodichthys, 

 Hemiculter, Smiliogaster, Toxabramis, Gutter, Eustira, Cheta, 

 Pseudolabuca, and CacJims. 



XIII. HOMALOPTEEINA. — Dorsal and anal fins short, the 

 former opposite to ventrals. Pectoral and ventral fins hori- 

 zontal, the former with the outer rays simple. Barbels six or 

 none. Air-bladder absent. Pharyngeal teeth in a single series, 

 from ten to sixteen in number. 



Inhabitants of hill-streams in the East Indies ; they are 

 of small size and abundant where they occur. Thirteen 

 species are known belonging to the genera Homaloptera, 

 Gastromyzon, Crossostoma, and Psilorhynchus. 



XIV. COBITIDINA. — Mouth surrounded by six or more 

 barbels. Dorsal fin short or of moderate length; anal fin 

 short. Scales small, rudimentary, or entirely absent. Pharyn- 

 geal teeth in a single series, in moderate number. Air-bladder 

 partly or entirely enclosed in a bony capsule. Pseudobranchice 

 none : Loaches. 



MiSGURNUS. — Body elongate, compressed. No sub-orbital 

 spine. Ten or twelve barbels, four belonging to the mandible. 

 Dorsal fin opposite to the ventrals ; caudal rounded. 



Four species from Europe and Asia. M. fossilis is the 

 largest of European Lo9,ches, growing to a length of ten 

 inches ; it occurs in stagnant waters of eastern and southern 



