84 FISH GALLERY. 



The Characinid(B (Case 20) are confined to the fresh waters of 

 Africa and tropical America. This 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 Siluridee. 

 Among the carnivorous forms, Myletes (Caribe) and Hydrocyon 

 are most destructive to other fishes, and are known to attack and 

 annoy even bathers. 



The Cyprinidm, or family of Carps (Case 23 a), 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 carpiv), originally a 



Fig. 71. 



Pharyngeal bones and side-view of one of the teeth 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 ncales being sometimes as large 

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



