Page:Natural History, Fishes.djvu/221

Rh in the middle of the back; and the ventrals are placed just beneath it; the caudal is large and rounded, or truncate. The air-bladder is two-lobed, and is curiously inclosed in a case of bone, attached to the spine. There are twenty-two species known as Loaches, which are found in the fresh waters of the Old World, and chiefly in the rivers of India. Two, however, are British; and are among the most minute of our fishes, the one attaining the length of three inches, the other that of four. Though so minute, the flesh of the Loach is accounted excellent; and in some parts of Europe, so great is the estimation in which it is held for its exquisite delicacy and flavour, that it is often transported with considerable trouble and expense from its native streams, to such as flow through the estates of the opulent. Frederic I., of Sweden, imported our common species (Cobitis barbatula, ), from Germany into his own dominions, where they were readily naturalized.

3. Cyprinina. In this Sub-family, which comprises an immense majority of the species, the small mouth, the jaws absolutely destitute of teeth, and the three flat gill-rays, are obvious distinctions, to which are added the palatal cushion, and the grinding apparatus in the pharynx. The tongue is smooth; the scales are usually large; the air-bladder is divided into two compartments by a narrow neck. There is but one dorsal, generally near the middle of the back. No fewer than six hundred and fifty species are enumerated in this group, which are principally inhabitants of the fresh waters of the Old World; a few are found in America; but only,