Page:Natural History, Fishes.djvu/217

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CARPS.
203

to each by the same authority in his recent Conspectus, 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 Cyprinidæ 266 7 Pleuronectidæ 77
2 Esocidæ 72 8 Cyclopteridæ 27
3 Siluridæ 128 9 Echeneididæ 4
4 Salmonidæ 148 10 Ophidiadæ 16
5 Clupeadæ 103 11 Murænadæ 75
6 Gadidæ 41 12 Syngnathidæ 43
——
Total 1000


Family I. Cyprinidæ.

(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 cæcal appendages.

The Carps are considered to be the most herbivorous of all fishes, feeding chiefly on the seeds