FISHES OF THE BRITISH ISLANDS. 
CYPRINID^. 
THE CARP FAMILY. 
This family, says Cuvier, is recognised by the month being 
slightly cleft, with jaws in most instances without teeth, and 
its border formed by the maxillary bones: the gullet furnished 
with strong teeth: rays of the gill-membrane very few in 
number. Ihe body is covered with scales, and there is no 
adipose fin on the back: ventral fins on the abdominal line. 
Ihe character assigned by Artedi is, that there are three rays 
in the gill-membrane; mouth altogether smooth, and in the 
gullet two hard saw-like bones on the lower part, and above 
a single oval bone not so hard as the others, these bones 
supplying the place of teeth. The air-bladder is constricted 
in the middle as if tied with a cord; to which we may add 
that from the hindmost chamber of this bladder is directed 
forward a duct to be united to the gullet, or perhaps to the 
brain. Abdominal fishes. 
The bones of the gullet here referred to are in some degree 
equivalent to the beds of teeth in the posterior portion of the 
mouth in many other species; and some other kinds not closely 
allied to the Cyprinidee have somewhat similar beds, as especially 
the family of Wrasses. But in the CyprinidcB, as they appear 
to exercise a special office, somewhat answering to rumination, 
as in addition to their situation near the entrance of the stomach, 
their construction is more prominent and strong; and they arc 
fixed on a firm bone of a crooked shape, which gives them a 
firm and defined motion, in which they act by powerful muscles. 
In fact it appears certain that a real action of rumination takes 
place in these fishes, although they do not possess a complication 
VOL. IV. B 
