282 CHARACTERS OF VERTEBRATE ANIMALS 



account of its fatty texture, is generally called the adipose fin. 

 An anal fin is placed opposite or nearly opposite this. 



The Salmon {Salmo salar) (fig. 165) ranges right round the 

 northern hemisphere as far south as latitude 41° in the New 

 World and 43° in the old. It is well known as one of the fishes 

 that live partly in the sea and partly in fresh water, while the 

 Common Trout (Salmo fario) is limited to the latter. 



The Common Smelt (Osmerus eperlanus) is an example of 

 the smaller members of the Salmon family. It is found in the 

 ■seas of both Northern and Central Europe, as well as in some 

 of the lakes and rivers of the same regions. 



3. Pike Family. — This is a small group of predatory fresh- 

 water fishes, including only seven species, of which six are 

 confined to the United States, while the Common Pike {Esox 

 lucius) has a wide distribution through the temperate regions of 

 the northern hemisphere. There is no fatty fin, and the single 

 dorsal is placed far back near the tail. The shape of the 

 head, with its flattened snout and projecting lower jaw, is very 

 characteristic. 



4. Carp Fam,ily. — This is a large group of fresh -water 

 fishes distributed through all the great land masses except 

 South America and Australia. There is no fatty fin, and the 

 mouth is entirely devoid of teeth, though these structures are 

 present in the pharynx, attached to the bones which support the 

 gill -arches. The Common Carp {Cyprimis carpio) is a stoutly- 

 built fish with a long dorsal fin and two pairs of small barbels. 

 It is a native of Asia, but, being much esteemed as food, was 

 introduced into Europe at an early date, and is supposed to 

 have been naturalized in this country by the monks during the 

 Middle Ages. The well-known Gold- Fish {Carassius auratus) 

 is a domesticated species of a genus of carps in which barbels 

 are absent. It is a native of China aind Japan, and the bright 

 colouring is the result of artificial surroundings. Remarkable 

 varieties of form have also been produced, as in other animals 

 which have come under the influence of man. 



Among native members of the family may be mentioned 

 the Gudgeon {Gobio Jluviatilis), a small fish with a pair of short 

 barbels; the much larger Barbel {Barbus vulgaris), with four 

 barbels ; the Common Bream [Abramis brama) ; the Bleak 

 [Alburnus lucidus), Roach ^Leuciscus rutilus), Chubb (Z. 



