CARPS. 
205 
zoologist makes two distinct Families. We pre- 
fer to consider them as Sub-families. 
1. Poeciliana, In this group^ the head is flat, 
the jaws are broad, and flattened horizontally, 
with a very small mouth, furnished with one or 
more rows of very flne teeth; the gill-openings 
are large, with, in general, five gill-rays; the 
body is rather short, and clothed with large, 
strong scales. This Sub-family comprises about 
fifty species, which chiefly inhabit the rivers of 
America. One little species is found in Sar- 
dinia, and another {Cyprinodon umhra^ Lacep.) 
is remarkable as being one of the inhabitants of 
those subterraneous lakes in Austria where per- 
petual darkness reigns. 
Another species, still more interesting, as if to 
make a superabundant use of the light which the 
former is destined never to see, has the organ of 
HEAD OP FOUR-EYED LOACH. 
vision fourfold. It is the Anahleps tetrophthaU 
mus, commonly known as the Four-eyed Loach of 
the Brazilian rivers. This appellation is, how- 
ever, only partially correct. The eyes,” ob- 
serves Cuvier, “ are prominent, placed under a 
