CARPS, 
203 
to each by the same authority in his recent Con- 
spectus, published in 1850. Thus it will be 
seen how rapid are the accessions that are now 
being made to our knowledge of the species of 
animals. 
SP. 
SP. 
1 Cyprinidse . 
266 
7 Pleuronectidae . . . • 
77 
2 Esocidae . . . 
....... 72 
8 Cyclopteridae 
27 
3 Siluridae . 
128 
9 Echeneididae 
4 
4 Salmonidae 
148 
10 Ophidiadae 
16 
5 Clupeadae . 
103 
1 1 Muraenadae 
75 
6 Gadidae . . . 
....... 41 
12 Syngnatliidas 
43 
Total 
1000 
Family I. 
CyPRINID^o 
{Carps.) 
In this very extensive Family, comprising so 
many of our well-known and familiar river-fishes, 
the mouth is small and shallow ; the jaws are 
feeble and destitute of teeth; but the pharynx 
(or entrance of the gullet) is defended by strong 
teeth which compensate for the feeble armature 
of the jaws : the tongue is smooth. The form is 
somewhat compressed, and symmetrical ; the body 
covered with scales, which are generally large ; 
the fins are destitute of scales ; the rays are soft, 
the membrane somewhat opaque : there is but 
one dorsal, generally placed near the centre of the 
back : the gill-rays are few in number. The 
stomach is continuous, and the intestine is not 
furnished with any caecal appendages. 
The Carps are considered to be the most her- 
bivorous of all fishes, feeding chiefly on the seeds 
