PISCES. 



91 



FAMILY I. CIPRINIDiE. 



Mouth slightly cloven ; jaws weak and generally without 

 teeth ; pharyngeals deeply indented, to compensate for the 

 trifling armature of the jaws ; body scaly ; no adipose dorsal; 

 these are the least carnivorous of fish. Only one remarkable 

 genus. 



Genus Cyprinus, Lin. Carp. 



Tongue smooth ; the palate provided with a thick, soft and 

 singularly irritable substance, commonly known by the name 

 of " Carp's tongue pharynx presenting a powerful instru- 

 ment of mastication ; only one dorsal ; body scaly ; they in- 

 habit fresh water, and are the least carnivorous of their class ; 

 they live on herbage, grain and even ooze. Seven remark- 

 able subgenera. 



Subgenus I. Ciprinus, Cuv. Carp proper. 



Dorsal long, in which, as well as in the anal, is a spine 

 more or less stout, in place of the second ray ; some have cirri, 

 others are without them. 



Subgenus II. Barbus, Cuv. 



Dorsal and anal short; a strong spine in place of the 

 second or third ray of the dorsal; four little beards (cirri), of 

 which two are upon the end and two at the angles of the 

 upper jaw. 



Subgenus 111. Gobio, Cuv. Gudgeon. 



Dorsal and anal short, without spines ; cirri. 



Subgenus IV. Tinca, Cuv. Tench. 



Characteristics of the Gudgeons, but very small scales and 

 cirri. 



Subgenus V. Leuciscus, Klein. 



Dorsal and anal short ; no spines nor cirri. 



Subgenus VI. Catostomus, Leseur. 



Dorsals short and opposite to the ventrals ; lips fleshy, 

 hanging and fringed or crenated ; inhabit the fresh waters of 

 North America. 



