THE CARP. 
191 
On each side of the mouth is a single beard ; above those 
on each side another, but shorter; the dorsal fin extends fiir 
towards the tail, which is a little bifurcated ; the third ray 
of the dorsal fin is very strong, and armed with sharp teeth 
pointing downwards ; the third ray of the anal fin is con- 
structed in the same manner. 
I he Barbel was so extremely coarse, as to be overlooked 
by the ancients till the time of Ausonius, and what he says 
re no panegyric on it; for he lets us know it loves deep wa- 
ters, and, that when it grows old, it was not absolutely bad. 
It frequents the still and deep parts of rivers, and lives 
in society, rooting like swine with their noses in the soft 
banks. It is so tame as to suffer itself to be taken with the 
hand ; and people have been known to take numbers by 
diving for them. In summer they move about during night 
in search of food, but towards autumn, and durinor winter, 
confine themselves to the deepest holes. 
They are the worst and coarsest of fresh-water fish, and 
seldom eaten but by the poorer sort of people, who some- 
times boil them with a bit of bacon, to give them a relish. 
I he roe is very noxious, affecting those who unwarily eat 
of it with a nausea, vomiting, purging, and a slioht 
swelling. ° 
It is sometimes found of the length of three feet, and 
eighteen pounds in weight : it is of a long and rounded 
form : the scales not large. 
Its head is smooth ; the nostrils placed near the 
the mouth is placed below ; on each corner is 
beard, and another on each side the nose. 
The dorsal fin is armed with a remarkably strong 
sharply serrated, with which it can inflict a very severe 
wound on the incautious handler, and even do much damage 
to the nets. 
eyes; 
single 
spine, 
severe 
I he pectoral fins are of a pale brown colour ; the ven- 
t'al and anal tipped with yellow; the tail a little bifur- 
cated, and of a deep purple; the side line is straight. 
The scales are of a pale gold colour, edged with black • 
the belly is white. 
The Tench underwent the same fate with the barbel, in 
re spect to the notice taken of it by the early writers : and 
even Ausonius, who first mentions it, treats it with such 
■siespect, as evinces the great capriciousness of taste; for 
'at fish, which at present is held in such good repute, was 
n ms days the repast only of the canaille, 
th 1 1- S b een by some called the Physician of the fish, and 
e s ' lm e so healing, that the wounded apply it as a styptic. 
