16 
BARBEL. 
Barhus, 
Cypriniis Barbus, 
(I t( 
Barbus vulgaris, 
“ fluviafilis. 
JojfSTON ; B. 3, Tit. 1, C. 5, Table 26, f. 6, 
and Table 31, f. 11. 
"Willoughby; p. 259, Table Q 2. 
LINN.EUS. Bloch; pi. 18. Donovan; pi. 29. 
Jenyns; Manual, p. 404. 
CuviEB. Fleming; Br. Animals, p. 186. 
Tareell; Br. Fisbes, vol. i, p. 367. 
The Barbel has not a few of the habits of the Carp, and 
much that has been said of the structure of the organs of the 
senses and the faculties of the last-named fish, will also apply to 
the present species. The barbs at the mouth are even more 
developed than in the Carp, and the high condition of its organ 
of hearing has been shewn by its speedily quitting a place where 
much noise has been made. But its activity is greater than the 
Carp is capable of; as indeed might be judged from the more 
slender form of its body; and in the genial warmth of summer 
when these fishes assemble in considerable troops, they delight 
to stem the course of the more rapid portion of the river they 
frequent, and more especially when night has set in they become 
lively, with an evident display of a love of sport. But it is 
otherwise when cold weather advances; on the occurrence of 
which they retire into the deeper and stiller portion of the 
stream, where the high banks afford them shelter; and there, 
in some secret pool, instead of being sly and watchful, they 
become so dull and stupid as to show no sensibility of danger, 
even to such a degree as to suffer themselves to be caught with 
the hand by any one who will attempt to do it. I have been 
informed that at Oxford they have been taken thus by diving; 
and the numbers sometimes huddled together in favourite 
situations may be judged from the fact, that Jouston refers to 
Albertus as a witness that in the Danube in autumn ten cart- 
loads have been caught with the hand at one time. 
