CYPRlNiE, OR CARPS. 



239 



destitute of barbels^ and the snout always projects beyond 

 the mouth. Among the sub-genera of Cyprinus, which 

 may perhaps be retained^ is Barbus, represented by the 

 common barbel of our own rivers ; these processes, or 

 cylindrical cirri^ being placed on the sides of the mouth : 

 with these we associate the gudgeons and the tench, as 

 aberrant forms ; but nothing definite can be determined 

 on this point in the present state of their arrangement. 

 The beautiful and masterly figures of Le Sueur of ten 

 species of Catastomus may be consulted with advantage, 

 both by ichthyologists and artists. The genus Leuciscus 

 of Klein seems also to be one of the primary divisions of 

 the carps :. it is very numerous ; but only one of its 

 sub-genera has, as yet, been incorporated in our sys- 

 tems. Dr. Hamilton's genus Chela belongs to it, and 

 others will be found in our Synopsis. The bleak, roacb, 

 and smelt, are all native examples; and they are at once 

 distinguished from the two preceding genera, by their 

 lips being destitute of barbels ; and their thin fins, 

 which are without the anterior spinal ray. Those that 

 are found in India have such a strong resemblance to 

 the herrings, as observed by Dr. Hamilton, that they 

 are either related to them by affinity or by strong 

 analogy. We believe, however, that the relation is 

 analogical. As we proceed to the more aberrant carps, 

 we find the genus Erythrinus of Gronovius {E. tceniatus 

 Spix, fig. 47.)j uniting the CyprincB with the Salmoni- 



dce, by their strong teeth and large mouth; while Gono- 

 rynchus of the same author somewhat resembles Ery- 

 thrinus, with the small toothless mouth of a carp. Lastly, 

 the most aberrant type may possibly be that of Sudis, 

 a small genus of freshwater fishes found in the rivers of 



