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BETWEEN ICE AND FROST

PARANORMAL DATING AGENCY

 MILLY TAIDEN

LATIN GODDESS PRESS, INC.

 CONTENTS

Between Ice and Frost

Untitled

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Epilogue

About the Author

Also by Milly Taiden
Also by Milly Taiden
Also by Milly Taiden
Also by Milly Taiden
Also by Milly Taiden
 BETWEEN ICE AND FROST

PARANORMAL DATING AGENCY

NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR

MILLY TAIDEN
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Raven Casino loves solving mysteries. So it was only natural that she
take to the Alaskan wild to find her missing friend, Juliet. She is
ready to take on the world to figure out where Juliet could be. But
she wasn’t expecting to meet not one, but two hunks in the icy small
town of Antler, Alaska. These two were so sexy they radiated
enough heat to melt the polar ice caps. Hot damn!

Frost and Ice were hired to make sure Raven was safe, but the
minute they saw her, they knew she was the missing piece to their
triad. Now to explain to her that she was meant to be with them
both. Shared by both. And not freak her out. That was going to be
harder than stopping her from getting herself killed in their little
town.

There’s something going on in Antler and Raven’s out to find out

what they’re hiding. With a missing friend and clues at every corner
she turns, she’s taking this bull by the horns. The fantasies with
Frost and Ice are a side effect of being so close to them, but she’d
get over it. Right? Uh… When she solves a puzzle that’s bigger than
she realized, it’s going to take two very alpha dragons to keep her
alive long enough to get her freak on.
 This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are
fictitious or have been used fictitiously, and are not to be construed as real in any
way. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales, or
organizations is entirely coincidental.

Published By
Latin Goddess Press, Inc.
Winter Springs, FL 32708
http://millytaiden.com
Between Ice and Frost
Copyright © 2018 by Milly Taiden
Cover by: Willsin Rowe
Edited by: Tina Winograd
All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any
manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief
quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
Property of Milly Taiden
July 2018

Created with Vellum

—For ALL happily ever afters. Love is love.
 1

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R aven C asino frowned at her cell phone and sat back on the
expensive leather sofa.
“Honey, if you stare at that any harder, it’s gonna catch fire. You
look pissed as hell,” her mother told her.
She turned her frown at her mom and quickly smoothed her
features when her mother pursed her lips. “This is the second day in
a row Juliet hasn’t answered my emails or text messages. She never
goes this long without getting back to me and it’s really worrying
me.”
“She’s all the way up in god knows where in Alaska. She probably
has horrible service. Or she could be snowed in under horrible
weather.”
“She’s working in Antler, Mom. Yes, there is bad weather, and the
town is small, but she has a great setup up there. Her company has
an amazing cabin for her to stay in, including satellite internet and
phone. I mean, she hasn’t had any problems until now.”
 Her mom picked up her tea and sipped, folding her legs primly in
her expensive Gucci suit. “She had better be safe. She said she’d
help with the charity ball coming up. Her company is also donating a
lot of money to the charity this year. Someone needs to represent
them.” Her mom reached down and rubbed a hand on the back of
her ankles.
“Oh, for god’s sake, Mom. Take the damn shoes off,” she
growled.
Her mom gave her a horrified look. “Are you crazy? No. They just
need to be broken in.”
“Or they just need to break your neck. How in the hell you wear
those death traps is beyond me. Five-inch Louboutins are fine for the
office or even your galas, but not to sit with me. It’s ridiculous.”
She bent down and pulled the shoes off her mom’s feet, noticing
the redness around the back of her heel and by her toes.
Her mother gave a sigh of relief. “Maybe for a few minutes while
I have my tea.”
Raven shook her head. “I still don’t know how Dad sees you in
pain and lets you walk around in those shoes.”
“Your father is a smart man and knows there are two things he
will never argue with me about: my opinions as Chief Financial
Officer of the company, and what I wear. Whether it’s my handbags,
my clothes or my shoes, none are up for debate.”
“Stubborn woman,” she mumbled, rushing to a closet to get a
spa tub foot massager. She filled it with warm water from the
bathroom and then carried it back to her mother, placing it by her
feet.
“Oh, sweetie,” her mom smiled. “Thank you. You’re the most
thoughtful daughter ever.”
She dropped in lavender oil and Epsom salt and turned the
massager on.
“Yeah, yeah. I know. Let’s see if we can get that swelling down.”
“By the way,” her mom grinned, “you get your stubbornness from
me.”
She rolled her eyes and blew a corkscrew curl away from her
forehead. “Yeah, I know. Dad’s told me a bunch of times.”
 Raven sat, picked up a water bottle, and chugged. “I’m really
worried about Juliet.”
Her mom moaned and leaned farther back in the plush white
sofa. Raven loved her sofas. They went with an all-white theme for
her home. It was a little weird and sterile and she hadn’t heard the
end of it from her mom when she first told her, but once her mother
saw how beautifully it all came together, she’d admitted it looked
amazing. There was such a peaceful feel to Raven’s home. She’d
given up being at the office two days a week to work from her home
office just to enjoy her new house.
At thirty-five, she’d always worked for her parents and did a ton
of traveling for their massive real estate conglomerate. But now that
she’d bought her first house and settled in, she found she wanted to
start a family. Maybe she should stop ignoring all the men her
parents tried to set her up with. She scrunched her nose. Those
guys were so boring.
“Stop wrinkling your face like that, love. You’ll look older than
you are. And you’re too beautiful for that. I don’t want to have to
buy you Botox for your next birthday.”
“Mom!”
“Well, it’s true. Who in their right mind hasn’t used Botox at your
age? It’s unheard of.”
She often wondered if the rest of the world had this type of
reality. Coming from a family that was incredibly wealthy was nice,
but there had to be oddities her family did that others didn’t.
Like her mom waking up in a power suit and having a makeup
artist at her home to do her face before the sun was even out.
First, it was the personal training sessions, which she loved
making Raven attend since she lived next door. Then, it was the chef
that prepared the healthiest of meals. Personal shoppers, dressers,
makeup artists. Her mother’s house was fully staffed with enough
people, it felt like a party going on all day, every day.
Juliet had been the only friend who had understood money didn’t
make Raven. She didn’t wear makeup. She wore business casual to
work, much to her mother’s dislike, and she refused to get her super
curly hair professionally straightened with a bunch of chemicals.
 Raven had made her own choices in the world she’d been raised
in. Other than her tonsils removed as a kid, she hadn’t had any
surgeries. And certainly not plastic surgery. Once again, much to her
mother’s unhappiness. No, she would not get a Brazilian booty lift.
No, she did not need implants, her C-cups were fine. And she was
okay not having a six pack of abs. She worked out. Heck, she was
pretty much forced into it daily. Ate healthy and took care of herself.
She didn’t need what society deemed to be a perfect body. She was
happy.
“Honey, why don’t you call her boss and ask if there is something
wrong with their connections to Alaska?”
“I already did,” she admitted. She scrolled through her phone,
mentally willing Juliet to send her a message. “They said everything
was fine and they hadn’t heard from her either.”
“Then they need to send someone to check on her, no?”
She shrugged. “It’s not that easy. Her boss said it would take a
week before they could make that decision. She could be sick in a
hospital or something. If they don’t hear from her in two weeks,
they’d send someone out by the end of the month. So it’s almost
three weeks before someone goes to check on her.”
“That’s ridiculous!”
“I know!”
“What’s she even doing out there?”
She let her shoulders drop, knowing her mother barely listened
to her anyway. “She’s evaluating the size of some icebergs for the
National Snow and Ice Data Center.”
“Did she get the core samples or whatever the last time she was
up there?”
She nodded. “I think so. She didn’t mention much about it.” What
could’ve happened to keep her best friend from calling back? Maybe
she should go herself.
“You have that look on your face,” her mother stared at her with
narrowed eyes.
Uh-oh. “What look?”
“The one that says your dad and I should hire bodyguards to
make sure you don’t get into any trouble.”
 “Come on,” she snorted and waved at her mother dismissively,
quickly glancing down at her white top and picking non-existent lint
from it.
“Oh no, missy. Don’t come on me. I’m your mother. I know you.
You had that little private group in school that tried to figure out who
did things to get justice for everyone.”
She grinned at the memory. Elementary school had been fun.
“That was a long time ago.”
“We had to get a lawyer then,” her mother said matter-of-factly.
“Mom, I don’t get into trouble,” she said and glanced up to meet
her mother’s gaze. “I’m a different person now.”
“Who was the one who set up an elaborate hoax client account
to figure out who was stealing from Cecily’s company?”
Cecily, her mom’s best friend and owner of a chain of spas, had
discussed her issues in front of Raven and she’d immediately gone
into action.
“Yes, but it got her niece caught.” Sad that it was her relative
stealing from her all along.
“But it also almost got you shot by the crazed woman when she
fired her.”
She shrugged. “She was doing things wrong. Maybe I’m a little
impulsive, but I hate it when people take advantage of others or
commit crimes that hurt innocent lives.”
Her mom cocked her head. “I really think you should have gone
to law school instead of getting a marketing degree. It would be
better for you.”
She thought about it often—going back to school to be a lawyer.
Not like she had anything going in her life. Why not? Maybe after
she figured out where her best friend was. Until then, Juliet was the
most important person on her mind.
“Anyway, when are you going to let me and your father set you
up with someone?”
“Mom, don’t start that again.”
“Just hear me out,” she continued. “I met the loveliest woman at
the last ball Cecily hosted for her children’s charity. Her name is Gerri
Wilder.”
 She groaned and leaned back on her seat. “Whatever you’re
thinking, don’t do it.”
“Gerri owns a dating agency! I think it’s like a sign or something.”
She laughed drily. “Or something.”
“One date. Just one.” Her mom gave her the sweet smile she
used to get her way. “Please, darling. I would like grandchildren one
day.”
“Ugh,” she sighed. “Fine. I know I’m going to regret this.”
Her mother squealed. “You won’t. Have a little faith, darling.”
Sure. She could have faith. And maybe she’d find the perfect
man. She snorted. That never happened. Before she met another
boring executive, she needed to figure out what happened to Juliet.
 2

G erri Wilder picked up her ringing phone with a smile.

“Amanda Casino, so nice to hear from you.” She greeted
her new friend. “I’m surprised you have time to call with
your crazy schedule.”
“Gerri,” Amanda said cheerfully. “I got Raven to agree to let me
use your services.”
“And she’s aware she’s going to be set up?”
“Yes…I made sure I said you owned a dating agency.”
Gerri grinned wider. “Did you tell her they were paranormals?
Shifters?”
Silence. “No. I figured it’d be a great surprise for her.” She
giggled. “I mean, those guys are hot. I’m excited at the prospect of
my child marrying one of them.”
“What about two?”
“Huh?”
Gerri laughed. “What if she gets two?”
“Oh my,” Amanda said softly. “If she’s that lucky, I’ll cheer her
on.”
Now this was the type of mother Gerri liked to work with. No
wonder she and Amanda Casino had gotten along so well from the
first meeting.
“Where’s Raven now?”
 “She’s jutting around Alaska searching for a friend,” Amanda told
her. “Frankly, I hate the idea of her being so far away from us and
me not able to send her help if she needs it.”
“I might be able to help. I know some men that are part of a
security company in Alaska.”
“You have no idea how much that would ease my mind. Can I
hire them to guard her? I’m scared she’ll get into trouble.”
Gerri wrote Raven’s name, then below to the left wrote Ice, and
to the right, Frost. She then drew lines to create a triangle between
the three. “Don’t worry about anything. Raven will be in good hands.
Trust me.”
 3

I ce glared at the computer screen. His dragon wanted to

destroy the damn thing and forget all about the stupid forms
they wanted him to fill out.
“Stop looking at it like it ate your dinner,” Frost, his partner and
fellow dragon, told him.
“I hate all this bureaucratic crap. We saved that stupid man’s
life,” he growled. “Something he fought the entire time we were
trying to keep him safe.”
Frost nodded. “I know, but if we don’t fill these out, they might
believe his dumbass story and we could be sent to do more of those
annoying babysitting jobs.”
Ice growled again. Louder. He hated this. Hated being in the city.
Hated the people. The noise. “I’m due for a vacation. We should go
home.”
Frost met his gaze, their dragons in sync due to the fact they
were not only ancient ice dragons, but they were linked, destined to
form a triad when they met their mate. “You want to get away from
the chaos of city life?”
No way to lie to Frost. He never had, and he wasn’t starting now.
He was not just his best friend since childhood, they’d shared
everything their entire lives, including women. It was natural for
those meant to be part of triads. Some women found it sexy, while
others thought it strange. A lot were under the misconception he
and Frost were related, but they weren’t. Not by blood. They had a
special connection brought on from being born on the same day at
the same time of the same year. It linked them to form a triad. Too
bad they hadn’t found their mate. Not in the hundreds of years
they’d been roaming the earth.
“I need a break from this. If they need us for a real emergency,
they know where to find us. One week, Frost. That’s all I ask.”
Frost tossed a balled-up paper at him. “Fine. But you have to
explain to our boss why we’re leaving in the middle of the
investigation into our case.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Happily. If we don’t go, I’m liable to find
that asshole that made our lives a living hell for two weeks and
freeze him until next summer.”
“Yeah, you don’t sound stressed at all,” said Axel, a fire dragon,
passing by them. He stopped for a moment and glanced between
Ice and Frost. “Where are you two off to?”
“Home.”
Axel raised his brows. “Alaska? Man, that’s far as hell. And cold,
too. Why would you want to go up there now?”
“I need some peace and quiet,” Ice told him. “My dragon does,
too.”
Frost grimaced. “I feel the same. It’s nice to have these jobs, but
we’re not meant to be surrounded by so many people. We live in an
area where our closest neighbor is several miles away. We’re not in
town.”
“And we like it that way.”
“But it’s so…cold,” Axel complained.
Frost grinned. “We know. We’re ice dragons. We kind of like the
cold.”
Ice nodded at Axel’s shocked face.
“I’ll never understand you ice folks,” Axel muttered.
“We’re older than you are, fire boy. How about you come and
check out Alaska with us.”
Axel snorted. “Yeah, when hell freezes over, or my mother makes
me. Until then, hell no.”
 “Inviting Greta is a great idea.” Frost laughed. “Then you’d be
forced to go.”
Axel glared at him as he marched away. “Don’t even joke.”
Ice thought about Axel. The fire dragon loved being single, but
he was young. Meanwhile, he and Frost only found annoying non-
mates that made their lives miserable. How was this fair?
“I sense your frustration, Ice. Be patient. Our mate is out there.
We’ll find her when the time is right.”
Ice slammed his fist on his desk, pulling the attention of other
agents from their work. “I’m old, Frost. Old and tired and I’m done
waiting. If we don’t find our mate in the next six months, I’m going
to sleep.”
Frost’s eyes filled with panic. “You can’t. This isn’t like you, Ice.
You don’t quit.”
Too bad. He was fucking drained from ungrateful humans. Of not
finding their mate. Of the noise of the city. Sleeping under the ice
gave him peace. It soothed his dragon. “I’m doing it, Frost.”
“You know if you’re sleeping when our mate comes into the
picture, I won’t be able to know who she is and you won’t either. We
might lose our chance.”
What was the likelihood that if he went to sleep, their mate
would pop up when she hadn’t for hundreds of years? Not likely.
“I’m not changing my mind.”
Frost squeezed his shoulder. “Let’s go home. You’ll feel better
when you breathe clean air and don’t have to hear cars honking and
people rushing to go nowhere.”
He sent an email to one of his partners to explain why they were
leaving and told her that if she really needed them, she could reach
them at home. Hopefully, she wouldn’t need them.

G oing home wasn’t as simple as picking up and leaving. They had to

ensure a neighbor would watch their plants and get their mail. Mrs.
Pendlebury was a sweetheart and volunteered every time they went
away for work or to Alaska. Ice was pretty sure she thought they
were a gay couple, but he didn’t bother correcting her thinking.
It was easier for her to think them gay than for him to explain
they were ancient dragons. Not only that, but they were looking for
a mate to create a triad. A triad in which there was no sex between
the men; they focused solely on their woman. Yeah, really simple.
Once all was arranged, they drove to their usual mountain to
leave their car. There, they shifted and flew high, their shiny white
and light blue scales blending in with the clouds, allowing them to fly
without running into problems. It took several days before they got
home, making their usual stops along the way, but they were happy
to arrive at their new home.
For many years, their cabin had been small, dry, and cramped. It
had never bothered either man since they didn’t spend much time
there. When they thought about a mate staying there, they realized
there was a problem. After speaking to their female coworkers, they
realized they needed remodeling.
Instead of working with what was there, they decided to leave
the cabin as a guest house. A brand new deluxe cabin was built with
a woman’s unique likes in mind. They hired the best cabin builder in
all Alaska. Got the best building materials they could find to
withstand the harsh fifty-below or more weather.
With the help of their boss and coworkers, they’d turned the
cabin into a woman’s dream. At least, that’s what they’d been told.
State of the art Jacuzzi tubs in all rooms. Heated floors throughout.
Solar panels to heat the house and the water. They’d even gone as
far as funding the power plant in the nearest town, so they could all
have power in the darkest days of winter.
There were blackout shades on all windows. Massive wall-sized
fireplaces in most rooms and a chef’s kitchen created out of a cook’s
wet dreams. Again, this was all what their coworkers had told them.
They’d even paid for a top of the line satellite system to keep
them connected during the worst snow storms so their mate would
never feel like she couldn’t speak to her friends or family. Now if only
they could find the woman.
 Ice didn’t know if a mate would like any of it, but he and Frost
did love the sauna on the lower level next to the movie theater.
A large attached, heated garage housed their snowmobiles and
all-terrain vehicle to help any humans who might be stranded during
a storm. Only a handful of people, also shifters, knew they were
dragons. They weren’t vocal about their identities and liked to keep
a low profile.
“Home sweet home.” Frost sighed and carried his bag inside,
sliding out of his snow boots and coat.
“It’s definitely nice to be back,” Ice said, looking around the
inside of their home and loving how immaculate it was. “Jackie came
by and cleaned, I see.”
“I emailed her that we were coming before we left. She filled the
fridges, too.”
“Remind me to give her a bonus,” Ice said, removing his own
boots and coat. He padded on the warm floor in his socks, straight
to the kitchen and opened the fridge to pull out a beer. Downing it in
two gulps, he exhaled and smiled. “Now it feels like I’m home.”
Frost laughed. “Moron.” He slipped past Ice in the kitchen. “I’m
going to heat up dinner.”
A beep came from Ice’s phone informing him a message came in.
“Well, shit. I’ll check my emails.” Ice headed down the hall to the
back of the cabin. Their home located at the top of a mountain gave
them the most amazing views of the land and the skies. Their office
was made up of four-inch thick glass panes, specially designed to
keep the heat in while giving unobstructed views of the land.
He sat at one of two identical desks, his sight line down the
frozen river and snow-capped trees. After booting up his system, he
opened his work email, just to ensure what came in was nothing
they had to answer before starting their time off.
Sure enough, an urgent email sat in his inbox. He double-clicked,
frustration mounting at the fact he hadn’t been there ten minutes
and already he was being stopped from enjoying his time away.
It was from Geraldine Wilder. Fuck. He’d forgotten to reply to her
last email. She asked him to call her urgently. Without a second’s
hesitation, he called her.
 “It’s about time you called,” Gerri told him in a serious tone.
“You’d think you boys weren’t interested in finding a mate.”
He sat up and froze. “Did you find us a mate?”
“That’s a work in progress,” she said evasively. “I have a job for
you. It will allow you to work from home and keep my mind from
being preoccupied so I can focus on finding you both a mate.”
“What kind of job?”
“I have a friend whose daughter is visiting Alaska. She’s looking
for a friend. Her mother and I are a bit worried about her safety and
would ask you to keep an eye on her. Meet her casually somewhere.
You’re locals, so offer to help her look for her friend. And keep her
out of trouble while she finds her friend. She should be visiting the
local diner tomorrow. So you can start there.”
“That’s all?” He grunted, trying not to growl.
“Yes. You’ll be able to work from home.” He narrowed his eyes at
that line. Work from home. Not really. But working in their area was
better than being asked to return to the city. He would quit if that
was the case. Gerri was a favorite among the shifter partners in the
company. She’d helped quite a few of them find their mates. There
was no way he could say no.
“I emailed you her file. Read it. Find her. Keep her safe. And
don’t worry about your mate. That’s coming for you.”
He read the file, then opened the professional headshot of the
woman they’d be meeting at the Antler Diner in the morning. She
had unruly curly hair that landed past her shoulders, in waves of
auburn. Full pink lips tilted in a small grin. Her light brown eyes were
full of laughter when she was clearly trying to be serious.
She had peachy, flawless skin that looked very healthy and well
taken care of. Her dress in the photo matched her eyes. Then he
saw her name. Raven Casino. He frowned. Why did that sound
familiar?
 4

R aven zipped her parka and put on everything her mother

had bought for her. The sudden memory of when she’d gone
skiing with her parents as a kid surfaced. She’d been so
bundled up, she could barely see anything much less ski. It was like
being a seven-year-old all over again. Gloves, hat, scarf, and
everything a person could need to keep warm in Alaska.
Leaving the small plane, the wind caught her. It was bitingly cold.
She sucked a deep breath and snuggled deeper into her parka.
She’d gone against her mother’s wishes to go in the family jet.
Why waste so much gasoline to take only her to Alaska? Instead,
she didn’t argue when her mother insisted on getting her first-class
seats. Unfortunately, that last connecting flight to Antler was not one
that had first class.
“Ms. Casino?” She squinted into the wind and noticed a man
standing by the stairs of the plane wearing a sheriff’s uniform.
“Yes. You are?”
“I’m Sheriff White Hawk. We got word from Casino Worldwide
that you were coming to check out our small town for a possible
cabin retreat?”
She grinned. Her mother was such a good liar. Small, boutique
hotels were her mother’s passion, but there was no way she’d build
a cabin retreat in Antler, Alaska.
 “Yes, sir. My friend is up here for her job as well. I’ll be staying
with her.”
The sheriff raised his brows. His green eyes focused on hers.
“Who would that be?”
“Juliet Taylor. She works for the National Snow and Ice Data
Center.”
The sheriff looked away and walked toward the suitcases set up.
“Which is your bag?”
“The blue hardcase.”
He picked up her bag. She’d carried everything known to man,
unsure if she’d need it or not, or if she’d be able to get something if
she got sick or needed snacks.
“Do you know Juliet?” she asked as they headed toward a parked
SUV with the words Sheriff Department on the side.
“I met her when she first got here. A few people came along with
her. She stayed and they left after a few days.”
She noticed he didn’t seem interested in talking about Juliet.
“Have you seen her since?”
“Not recently,” he replied, opening the SUV door and helping her
in. “I’ll put your bag in the back and drive you to your friend’s. She’s
staying a short distance from town and you can get around easily on
a snowmobile if you need to.”
She nodded, and he shut her door. While he came around, she
wondered what could have happened to Juliet. Not hearing from her
an additional three days had caused her to panic and get on a plane
to Alaska. Her gut told her Juliet was in trouble and needed her.
There was no way in hell she wouldn’t help her friend.
“How do you plan on getting inside?” the sheriff asked once they
reached the cabin.
She turned to the sheriff. “I have a key.”
When she’d offered to check on Juliet for the data center, they’d
been happy not to spend the money sending another person out
there, so they sent her a key to the site and gave her permission to
look everywhere for Juliet in hopes she was just having
communication issues.
 The sky had started to darken, and it was only four in the
afternoon. “Is it usually dark this early?”
“We have several weeks where we have very little sunlight, so
this is a normal day for the folks here at Antler.” He got out of the
Jeep and pulled her bag out, passing her the handle. “I hope to see
you around. The diner in town is pretty good. They make great
pancakes.”
She watched him jump in his Jeep and leave quickly, not
concerned about whether she made it inside safely or not. What kind
of freaking sheriff did that?
Shaking her head, she dragged her bag to the company house
steps, hauled it up each one, and then grunted her way to the front
door. Keys out, she opened the door and rushed inside.
“Juliet?” she called out. “Juliet, it’s me! Raven!”
Nothing. Not even a hint of noise. She couldn’t even hear the
wind outside. The glass panes on the cabin must’ve been thick. She
took off most of what she had on, starting with her coat and gloves,
noticing the temperature inside the cabin had to be in the high 70s
and almost perfect. Once she was in only her fleece-lined leggings
and sweater, she continued walking around.
Calling out to Juliet yielded no results. She didn’t know what was
going on, but Juliet wasn’t in the cabin. In the kitchen, she found
food labeled by the date in plastic containers. She opened one and
took a whiff, then leaned her head away. That one had clearly gone
bad. It was dated for a week ago. The standing freezer next to it
was full of more pre-packed and labeled meals. Juliet was so
organized.
She continued past the kitchen to the bedrooms and found the
one with Juliet’s belongings. It was clean and tidy with a single
photo of herself and Juliet at a beach in Bora Bora. They were
smiling and happy. God, she hoped her friend was okay. A knot
formed in her throat and fear expanded in her chest, choking her
with its force.
“I’m going to find you,” she promised the Juliet in the photo. “I
won’t leave here without you.”
 She continued walking around until she’d gotten acquainted with
every room of the cabin. She went back to Juliet’s bedroom and
looked for her laptop but didn’t find it. Inside her desk was a
notebook with handwritten notes. There was the location of the
iceberg she’d been studying, which she’d dubbed Big Thick. Ha.
Juliet was adorable.
There was an attached garage that housed a snowmobile and a
Jeep with studded tires and chains, something she’d read about and
knew was a necessity for the snow and ice. There were also several
pairs of skis and ski gear.
She headed for the office she’d seen downstairs. The first thing
she noticed was the chaos in the room. Papers and maps spread on
every flat surface. Printed sheets with numbers that looked like lab
results. She even found a couple cotton balls that were a deep
purple. She had no idea what any of the mess was.
Moving to the modem boxes, she saw they were all plugged in
and had flashing lights. Looked good to her, not that she was a tech
guru by any means. A big board with the WIFI code made her life so
much easier. She logged on and had immediate service.
There was no reason Juliet couldn’t have replied to her emails.
There was something else wrong. She took that moment to email
her parents to let them know she was okay. The last thing she
needed was for them to send the Marines looking for her.
Her cellphone rang right away.
“Hi, Mom.” She sat on a recliner by a window to watch flurries
fall.
“Baby, are you okay? Do you need me to send the jet to get
you?”
“Mom, I’m fine. I told you I’m not coming home until I find Juliet.
She’s up here and she’s in trouble because she hasn’t been home in
several days.”
There was a short silence. “Have you considered that maybe she
met a man and is just spending a few days getting jiggy with it?”
“Mom!” She laughed so hard she almost dropped her phone. Her
mother had never used those words before.
 “What? It’s true. People do have sex, love. I mean, most people
do. I don’t think you have in way too long, though.”
“Mom, let’s just stop right there. If she’s with a man, she’d have
emailed me to tell me she’d be offline or something. Not just go M I
A.”
“All I’m saying is that you need to think about all possibilities. It
might not even be that big of a deal.”
She knew, though. Raven knew something bad was going on and
Juliet was in trouble. “Okay, I just wanted you to know I’m fine.”
“I hear the end of the call coming, so I’ll remind you to put
butter in your coffee or hot chocolate along with the MCT oil
powders you took. I don’t want you to lose muscle, sweetie. And
find a local restaurant. It’s the best way to ask people questions.”
“Got it, Mom. Butter in hot chocolate and a restaurant. Love you
and Dad. Tell him I said hi.”
“Bye, baby, stay safe!”
They ended the call and she sighed. What would cause Juliet to
disappear? And how could the sheriff treat the whole thing like it
was no big deal? A woman was missing in his town. Something was
happening in Antler and she was going to find out what. But first,
she needed some sleep. She’d check out the town diner in the
morning.
 5

R aven parked the Jeep in the diner’s lot, grateful for the pre-
programmed directions in the vehicle’s GPS, Marge’s Diner
being at the top of the list. The place looked brand new on
the outside. Clean and shiny with new parking lot.
She walked inside and was greeted with silence and stares from
the locals.
“Hello,” a woman greeted her behind a counter. “Breakfast?”
“Yes, please.”
The woman motioned to the booths. “Go ahead and have a seat,
sweetheart. I’ll be over in moment.”
She picked the only empty booth and sat, knowing all eyes were
still on her. The inside looked recently remodeled. Updated style with
cool colors and modern flair. Not what she expected in a hole in the
ground town like Antler.
A few minutes later, the woman from the counter was in front of
her, placing a coffee cup on the table and smiling curiously at her.
“I’m Marge. You’re with the people who want to build a cabin retreat
up here, huh?”
She blinked. Wow. Word certainly got around fast. “You could say
that. I’m also here visiting a friend, Juliet Taylor.”
Marge frowned. “Juliet. That’s gotta be the tiny blonde that
comes every day for pancakes and fish.”
“Yes! Juliet loves pancakes.” Not fish, though.
Another random document with
no related content on Scribd:
 behind the vent; adipose fin none; anal fin moderately long; caudal
subtruncated. Pseudobranchiæ none.
This singular genus, one of the “Challenger” discoveries, is
known from four examples, obtained at depths varying between
1600 and 2150 fathoms, off the coast of Brazil, near Tristan
d’Acunha and north of Celebes. All belong to one species, I. murrayi.
The eye seems to have lost its function of vision and assumed that
of producing light. The specimens are from 4 to 5½ inches long.
Paralepis.—Head and body elongate, compressed, covered with
deciduous scales. Cleft of the mouth very wide; maxillary developed,
closely adherent to the intermaxillary. Teeth in a single series, unequal
in size. Eye large. Ventrals small, inserted opposite or nearly opposite
the dorsal. Dorsal fin short, on the hinder part of the body; adipose fin
small; anal elongate, occupying the end of the tail; caudal emarginate.
Three species; small pelagic fishes from the Mediterranean and
Atlantic.—Sudis, from the Mediterranean, has a dentition slightly
different from that of Paralepis.
Plagyodus.—Body elongate, compressed, scaleless; snout much
produced, with very wide cleft of the mouth. Intermaxillary very long
and slender; maxillary thin, immovable. Teeth in the jaws and of the
palate very unequal in size, the majority pointed and sharp, some very
large and lanceolate. Eye large. Pectoral and ventral fins well
developed; the rayed dorsal fin occupies the whole length of the back
from the occiput to opposite the anal fin; adipose and anal fins of
moderate size. Caudal forked. Branchiostegals six or seven.
 Fig. 270.—Plagyodus ferox.
This is one of the largest and most formidable deep-sea fishes.
One species only is well known, P. ferox, from Madeira and the sea
off Tasmania; other species have been noticed from Cuba and the
North Pacific, but it is not evident in what respects they differ
specifically from P. ferox. This fish grows to a length of six feet, and
from the stomach of one example have been taken several
Octopods, Crustaceans, Ascidians, a young Brama, twelve young
Boar-fishes, a Horse-mackerel, and one young of its own species.
The stomach is coecal; the commencement of the intestine has
extremely thick walls, its inner surface being cellular, like the lung of
a reptile; a pyloric appendage is absent. All the bones are extremely
thin, light, and flexible, containing very little earthy matter; singular is
the development of a system of abdominal ribs, symmetrically
arranged on both sides, and extending the whole length of the
abdomen. Perfect specimens are rarely obtained on account of the
want of coherence of the muscular and osseous parts, caused by the
diminution of pressure when the fish reaches the surface of the
water. The exact depth at which Plagyodus lives is not known;
probably it never rises above a depth of 300 fathoms.
 The other less important genera belonging to this family are
Aulopus, Chlorophthalmus, Scopelosaurus, Odontostomus, and
Nannobrachium.

Fig. 271.—Pharyngeal bones and teeth of the

Bream, Abramis brama.

Third Family—Cyprinidæ.
Body generally covered with scales; head naked. Margin of the
upper jaw formed by the intermaxillaries. Belly rounded, or, if
trenchant, without ossifications. No adipose fin. Stomach without
blind sac. Pyloric appendages none. Mouth toothless; lower
pharyngeal bones well developed, falciform, sub-parallel to the
branchial arches, provided with teeth, which are arranged in one,
two, or three series. Air-bladder large, divided into an anterior and
posterior portion by a constriction, or into a right or left portion,
enclosed in an osseous capsule. Ovarian sacs closed.
The family of “Carps” is the one most numerously represented in
the fresh waters of the Old World and of North America. Also
numerous fossil remains are found in tertiary freshwater-formations,
as in the limestones of Oeningen and Steinheim, in the lignites of
Bonn, Stöchen, Bilin, and Ménat, in the marl slates and
carbonaceous shales of Licata in Sicily, and of Padang in Sumatra,
in corresponding deposits of Idaho in North America. The majority
can be referred to existing genera: Barbus, Thynnichthys, Gobio,
Leuciscus, Tinca, Amblypharyngodon, Rhodeus, Cobitis,
Acanthopsis, only a few showing characters different from those of
living genera: Cyclurus, Hexapsephus, Mylocyprinus (tertiary of
North America).
Most Carps feed on vegetable and animal substances; a few only
are exclusive vegetable feeders. There is much less diversity of form
and habits in this family than in the Siluroids; however, the genera
are sufficiently numerous to demand a further subdivision of the
family into groups.
I. Catostomina.—Pharyngeal teeth in a single series,
exceedingly numerous and closely set. Dorsal fin elongate, opposite
to the ventrals; anal short, or of moderate length. Barbels none.
These fishes are abundant in the lakes and rivers of North
America, more than thirty species having been described, and many
more named, by American ichthyologists. Two species are known
from North-Eastern Asia. They are generally called “Suckers,” but
their vernacular nomenclature is very arbitrary and confused. Some
of the species which inhabit the large rivers and lakes grow to a
length of three feet and a weight of fifteen pounds. The following
genera may be distinguished:—Catostomus, “Suckers,” “Red-
horses,” “Stone-rollers,” “White Mullets;” Moxostoma; Sclerognathus,
“Buffaloes,” “Black Horses;” and Carpiodes, “Spear-fish,” “Sail-fish.”
II. Cyprinina.—Anal fin very short, with not more than five or six,
exceptionally seven, branched rays. Dorsal fin opposite ventrals.
Abdomen not compressed. Lateral line running along the median line
of the tail. Mouth frequently with barbels, never more than four in
number. Pharyngeal teeth generally in a triple series in the Old World
genera; in a double or single series in the North American forms,
which are small and feebly developed. Air-bladder present, without
osseous covering.
Cyprinus.—Scales large. Dorsal fin long, with a more or less
strong serrated osseous ray; anal short. Snout rounded, obtuse,
mouth anterior, rather narrow. Pharyngeal teeth, 3. 1. 1.-1. 1. 3, molar-
like. Barbels four.
 Fig. 272.—The Carp, Cyprinus carpio.
The “Carp” (C. carpio, “Karpfen,” “La carpe,”) is originally a native
of the East, and abounds in a wild state in China, where it has been
domesticated for many centuries; thence it was transported to
Germany and Sweden, and the year 1614 is assigned as the date of
its first introduction into England. It delights in tranquil waters,
preferring such as have a muddy bottom, and the surface partially
shaded with plants. Its food consists of the larvæ of aquatic insects,
minute testacea, worms, and the tender blades and shoots of plants.
The leaves of lettuce, and other succulent plants of a similar kind,
are said to be particularly agreeable to them, and to fatten them
sooner than any other food. Although the Carp eats with great
voracity when its supply of aliment is abundant, it can subsist for an
astonishing length of time without nourishment. In the winter, when
the Carps assemble in great numbers, and bury themselves among
the mud and the roots of plants, they often remain for many months
without eating. They can also be preserved alive for a considerable
length of time out of the water, especially if care be taken to moisten
them occasionally as they become dry. Advantage is often taken of
this circumstance to transport them alive, by packing them among
damp herbage or damp linen; and the operation is said to be
unattended with any risk to the animal, especially if the precaution be
taken to put a piece of bread in its mouth steeped in brandy!
The fecundity of these fishes is very great, and their numbers
consequently would soon become excessive but for the many
enemies by which their spawn is destroyed. No fewer than 700,000
eggs have been found in the ovaries of a single Carp, and that, too,
by no means an individual of the largest size. Their growth is very
rapid, more so perhaps than that of any other Freshwater fish, and
the size which they sometimes attain is very considerable. In certain
lakes in Germany individuals are occasionally taken weighing thirty
or forty pounds; and Pallas relates that they occur in the Volga five
feet in length, and even of greater weight than the examples just
alluded to. The largest of which we have any account is that
mentioned by Bloch, taken near Frankfort-on-the-Oder, which
weighed seventy pounds, and measured nearly nine feet in length,—
a statement the accuracy of which is very much open to doubt.
Like other domesticated animals the Carp is subject to variation;
some individuals, especially when they have been bred under
unfavourable circumstances, have a lean and low body; others are
shorter and higher. Some have lost every trace of scales, and are
called “Leather-carps;” others retain them along the lateral line and
on the back only (“Spiegelkarpfen” of the Germans). Finally, in some
are the fins much prolonged, as in certain varieties of the Gold-fish.
Cross-breeds between the Carp and the Crucian Carp are of
common occurrence. The Carp is much more esteemed as food in
inland countries than in countries where the more delicate kinds of
sea fishes can be obtained.
Carassius differs from Cyprinus in lacking barbels; its pharyngeal
teeth are compressed, in a single series, 4–4.
Two well-known species belong to this genus. The “Crucian
Carp” (C. carassius, “Karausche”) is generally distributed over
Central and Northern Europe, and extends into Italy and Siberia. It
inhabits stagnant waters only, and is so tenacious of life that it will
survive a lengthened sojourn in the smallest pools, where, however,
it remains stunted; whilst in favourable localities it attains to a length
of twelve inches. It is much subject to variation of form; very lean
examples are commonly called “Prussian Carps.” Its usefulness
consists in keeping ponds clean from a super-abundance of
vegetable growth, and in serving as food for other more esteemed
fishes. The second species is the “Gold-fish,” Carassius auratus. It is
of very common occurrence in a wild state in China and the warmer
parts of Japan, being entirely similar in colour to the Crucian Carp. In
a domesticated state it loses the black or brown chromatophors, and
becomes of a golden-yellow colour; perfect Albinos are
comparatively scarcer. Many varieties and monstrosities have been
produced during the long period of its domestication; the variety
most highly priced at present being the so-called “Telescope-fish,” of
which a figure is annexed. The Gold-fish is said to have been first
brought to England in the year 1691, and is now distributed over
nearly all the civilised parts of the world.

Fig. 273.—Cyprinus auratus, var.

Catla.—Scales of moderate size. Dorsal fin without osseous ray,
with more than nine branched rays, commencing nearly opposite to
the ventrals. Snout broad, with the integuments very thin; there is no
upper lip, the lower with a free continuous posterior margin.
Symphysis of the mandibulary bones loose, with prominent tubercles.
 Mouth anterior. Barbels none. Gill-rakers very long, fine, and closely
set. Pharyngeal teeth, 5. 3. 2.-2. 3. 5.
The “Catla” (C. buchanani), one of the largest Carps of the
Ganges, growing to a length of more than three feet, and esteemed
as food.
Labeo.—Scales of moderate or small size. Dorsal fin without
osseous ray, with more than nine branched rays, commencing
somewhat in advance of the ventrals. Snout obtusely rounded, the
skin of the maxillary region being more or less thickened, forming a
projection beyond the mouth. Mouth transverse, inferior, with the lips
thickened, each or one of them being provided with an inner
transverse fold, which is covered with a deciduous horny substance
forming a sharp edge, which, however, does not rest upon the bone
as base, but is soft and movable. Barbels very small, two or four; the
maxillary barbels more or less hidden in a groove behind the angle of
the mouth. Anal scales not enlarged. Pharyngeal teeth uncinate, 5. 4.
2.-2. 4. 5. Snout generally more or less covered with hollow tubercles.

About thirteen species are known from rivers of tropical Africa

and the East Indies.
Discognathus.—Scales of moderate size. Dorsal fin without
osseous ray, with not more than nine branched rays, commencing
somewhat in advance of the ventrals. Snout obtusely rounded, more
or less depressed, projecting beyond the mouth, more or less
tubercular. Mouth inferior, transverse, crescent-shaped; lips broad,
continuous, with an inner sharp edge of the jaws, covered with horny
substance on the lower jaw; upper lip more or less distinctly fringed;
lower lip modified into a suctorial disk, with free anterior and posterior
margins. Barbels two or four; if two, the upper are absent. Anal scales
not enlarged. Pectoral fins horizontal. Pharyngeal teeth, 5. 4. 2.-2. 4.
5.

A small fish (D. lamta), extremely abundant in almost all the

mountain streams from Abyssinia and Syria to Assam.
Capoëta.—Scales small, of moderate or large size. Dorsal fin with
or without a strong osseous ray, with not more than nine branched
rays. Snout rounded, with the mouth transverse and at its lower side;
each mandible angularly bent inwards in front, the anterior mandibular
edge being nearly straight, sharpish, and covered with a horny brown
layer. No lower labial fold. Barbels two (rarely four), or entirely absent.
 Anal scales not conspicuously enlarged. Pharyngeal teeth
compressed, truncated, 5 or 4. 3. 2–2. 3. 4 or 5.
Characteristic of the fauna of Western Asia; one species from
Abyssinia. Of the fifteen species known C. damascina deserves to
be specially mentioned, being abundant in the Jordan and other
rivers of Syria and Asia Minor.
Barbus.—Scales of small, moderate, or large size. Dorsal fin
generally with the (third) longest simple ray ossified, enlarged, and
frequently serrated; never, or only exceptionally, with more than nine
branched rays, commencing opposite or nearly opposite to the root of
the ventral fin. Eyes without adipose eyelid. Anal fin frequently very
high. Mouth arched, without inner folds, inferior or anterior; lips without
horny covering. Barbels short, four, two, or none. Anal scales not
enlarged. Pharyngeal teeth 5. 4 or 3. 3 or 2.-2 or 3. 3 or 4. 5. Snout
but rarely with tubercles or pore-like grooves.
No other genus of Cyprinoids is composed of so many species as
the genus of “Barbels,” about 200 being known from the tropical and
temperate parts of the Old World; it is not represented in the New
World. Although the species differ much from each other in the form
of the body, number of barbels, size of the scales, strength of the
first dorsal ray or spine, etc., the transition between the extreme
forms is so perfect that no further generic subdivision should be
attempted. Some attain a length of six feet, whilst others never
exceed a length of two inches. The most noteworthy are the large
Barbels of the Tigris (B. subquincunciatus, B. esocinus, B. scheich,
B. sharpeyi); the common Barbel of Central Europe and Great Britain
(B. vulgaris); the “Bynni” of the Nile (B. bynni); B. canis from the
Jordan; the “Mahaseer” of the mountain streams of India (B. mosal),
probably the largest of all species, the scales of which are
sometimes as large as the palm of a hand. The small, large-scaled
species are especially numerous in the East Indies and the fresh
waters of Tropical Africa.
Thynnichthys.—Scales small. Dorsal fin without an osseous ray,
with not more than nine branched rays, commencing nearly opposite
the ventrals. Head large, strongly compressed; eye without well-
developed adipose membrane, in the middle of the depth of the head.
Snout with the integuments very thin; there is no upper lip, and the
lower jaw has a thin labial fold on the sides only. Mouth anterior and
lateral; barbels none. Gill-rakers none; laminæ branchiales long, half
as long as the post-orbital portion of the head; pseudobranchiæ none.
Pharyngeal teeth lamelliform, with flat oblong crown, 5. 3 or 4. 2–2. 4
or 3. 5, the teeth of the three series being wedged into one another.
Three species from the East Indies.
Oreinus.—Scales very small. Dorsal fin with a strong osseous
serrated ray, opposite to the ventrals. Snout rounded, with the mouth
transverse, and at its lower side; mandibles broad, short, and flat,
loosely joined together; margin of the jaw covered with a thick horny
layer; a broad fringe-like lower lip, with free posterior margin. Barbels
four. Vent and anal fin in a sheath, covered with enlarged tiled scales.
Pharyngeal teeth pointed, more or less hooked, 5. 3. 2–2. 3. 5.
Three species from mountain streams of the Himalayas.
 Schizothorax.—Hill-barbels, with the same singular sheath on
each side of the vent, as in the preceding genus; but they differ in
having the mouth normally formed, with mandibles of the usual length
and width.

Seventeen species are known from fresh waters of the

Himalayas, and north of them. Other genera from the same region,
and with the anal sheath, are Ptychobarbus, Gymnocypris,
Schizopygopsis, and Diptychus.
Gobio.—Scales of moderate size; lateral line present. Dorsal fin
short, without spine. Mouth inferior; mandible not projecting beyond
the upper jaw when the mouth is open; both jaws with simple lips; a
small but very distinct barbel at the angle of the mouth, quite at the
extremity of the maxillary. Gill-rakers very short; pseudobranchiæ.
Pharyngeal teeth, 5. 3 or 2.—2 or 3. 5, hooked at the end.

The “Gudgeons” are small fishes of clear fresh waters of Europe;

they are, like the barbels, animal feeders. In Eastern Asia they are
represented by two closely allied genera, Ladislavia and
Pseudogobio.
Ceratichthys.—Scales of moderate or small size; lateral line
present. Dorsal fin short, without spine, not or but slightly in advance
of the ventrals. Mouth subinferior; the lower jaw does not project
beyond the upper when the mouth is open; intermaxillaries protractile
from below the maxillaries; both jaws with thickish lips; a small barbel
at the angle of the mouth, quite at the extremity of the maxillary. Gill-
rakers very short and few in number: pseudobranchiæ. Pharyngeal
teeth 4–4. hooked at the end (sometimes 4, 1—1. 4).

About ten species are known from North America; they are small,
and called “Chub” in the United States. C. biguttatus is, perhaps, the
most widely-diffused Freshwater-fish in the United States, and
common everywhere. Breeding males have generally a red spot on
each side of the head.
Other similar genera from the fresh waters of North America, and
generally called “Minnows,” are Pimephales (the “Black Head”),
Hyborhynchus, Hybognathus, Campostoma (the “Stone-lugger”),
Ericymba, Cochlognathus, Exoglossum (the “Stone Toter” or “Cut-
lips”), and Rhinichthys (the “Long-nosed Dace”).
 The remaining Old World genera belonging to the group
Cyprinina are Cirrhina, Dangila, Osteochilus, Barynotus,
Tylognathus, Abrostomus, Crossochilus, Epalzeorhynchus,
Barbichthys, Amblyrhynchichthys, Albulichthys, Aulopyge, Bungia,
and Pseudorasbora.
III. Rohteichthyina.—Anal fin very short, with not more than six
branched rays. Dorsal fin behind ventrals. Abdomen compressed.
Lateral line running along the median line of the tail. Mouth without
barbels. Pharyngeal teeth in a triple series.
One genus and species only, Rohteichthys microlepis, from
Borneo and Sumatra.
IV. Leptobarbina.—Anal fin very short, with not more than six
branched rays. Dorsal fin opposite to ventrals. Abdomen not
compressed. Lateral line running in the lower half of the tail. Barbels
present, not more than four in number. Pharyngeal teeth in a triple
series.
One genus and species only, Leptobarbus hoevenii, from Borneo
and Sumatra.
V. Rasborina.—Anal fin very short, with not more than six
branched rays. Dorsal fin inserted behind the origin of the ventrals.
Abdomen not compressed. Lateral line running along the lower half
of the tail, if complete. Mouth sometimes with barbels, which are
nevermore than four in number. Pharyngeal teeth in a triple, or single
series. Air-bladder present, without osseous covering.
Rasbora.—Scales large, or of moderate size, there being
generally four and a half longitudinal series of scales between the
origin of the dorsal fin and the lateral line, and one between the lateral
line and the ventral. Lateral line curved downwards. Dorsal fin with
seven or eight branched rays, not extending to above the anal, which
is seven-rayed. Mouth of moderate width, extending to the front
margin of the orbit, with the lower jaw slightly prominent, and provided
with three prominences in front, fitting into grooves of the upper jaw;
barbels none, in one species two. Gill-rakers short, lanceolate.
Pseudobranchiæ. Pharyngeal teeth in three series, uncinate.
 Thirteen species of small size from the East Indian Continent and
Archipelago, and from rivers on the east coast of Africa.
Amblypharyngodon.—Scales small; lateral line incomplete.
Dorsal fin without an osseous ray, with not more than nine branched
rays, commencing a little behind the origin of the ventrals. Head of
moderate size, strongly compressed; eye without adipose membrane;
snout with the integuments very thin; there is no upper lip, and the
lower jaw has a short labial fold on the sides only. Mouth anterior,
somewhat directed upwards, with the lower jaw prominent. Barbels
none. Gill-rakers extremely short; pseudobranchiæ. Pharyngeal teeth
molar-like, with their crowns concave, 3. 2. 1.—1. 2. 3. Intestinal tract
narrow, with numerous convolutions.
Three species of small size from the Continent of India.
To the same group belong Luciosoma, Nuria, and Aphyocypris,
from the same geographical region.
VI. Semiplotina.—Anal fin short, with seven branched rays, not
extending forwards to below the dorsal. Dorsal fin elongate, with an
osseous ray. Lateral line running along the middle of the tail. Mouth
sometimes with barbels.
Two genera: Cyprinion, from Syria and Persia, and Semiplotus
from Assam.
VII. Xenocypridina.—Anal fin rather short, with seven or more
branched rays, not extending forwards to below the dorsal fin. Dorsal
short, with an osseous ray. Lateral line running along the middle of
the tail. Mouth sometimes with barbels. Pharyngeal teeth in a triple
or double series.
Three genera: Xenocypris and Paracanthobrama from China;
and Mystacoleucus from Sumatra.
VIII. Leuciscina.—Anal fin short or of moderate length, with from
eight to eleven branched rays, not extending forwards to below the
dorsal. Dorsal fin short, without osseous ray. Lateral line, if complete,
running along, or nearly in, the middle of the tail. Mouth generally
without barbels. Pharyngeal teeth in a single or double series.
Leuciscus.—Body covered with imbricate scales. Dorsal fin
commencing opposite, rarely behind, the ventrals. Anal fin generally
 with from nine to eleven, rarely with eight (in small species only), and
still more rarely with fourteen rays. Mouth without structural
peculiarities; lower jaw not trenchant; barbels none. Pseudobranchiæ.
Pharyngeal teeth conical or compressed, in a single or double series.
Intestinal tract short, with only a few convolutions.
The numerous species of this genus are comprised under the
name of “White-fish;” they are equally abundant in the northern
temperate zone of both hemispheres, about forty species being
known from the Old World, and about fifty from the New. The most
noteworthy species of the former Fauna are the “Roach” (L. rutilus,
see Fig. 21, p. 50), common all over Europe north of the Alps; the
“Chub” (L. cephalus), extending into Northern Italy and Asia Minor;
the “Dace” (L. leuciscus), a companion of the Roach; the “Id” or
“Nerfling” (L. idus), from the central and northern parts of Continental
Europe, domesticated in some localities of Germany, in this condition
assuming the golden hue of semi-albinism, like a Gold-fish, and then
called the “Orfe;” the “Rudd,” or “Red-eye” (L. erythrophthalmus),
distributed all over Europe and Asia Minor, and distinguished by its
scarlet lower fins; the “Minnow” (L. phoxinus), abundant everywhere
in Europe, and growing to a length of seven inches in favourable
localities. The North American species are much less perfectly
known; the smaller ones are termed “Minnows,” the larger “Shiner”
or “Dace.” The most common are L. cornutus (Red-fin, Red Dace); L.
neogæus, a minnow resembling the European species, but with
incomplete lateral line; L. hudsonius, the “Spawn-eater” or “Smelt.”
Tinca.—Scales small, deeply embedded in the thick skin; lateral
line complete. Dorsal fin short, its origin being opposite the ventral fin;
anal short; caudal subtruncated. Mouth anterior; jaws with the lips
moderately developed; a barbel at the angle of the mouth. Gill-rakers
short, lanceolate; pseudobranchiæ rudimentary. Pharyngeal teeth 4 or
5.-5, cuneiform, slightly hooked at the end.
 Fig. 274.—The Tench (Tinca tinca).
Only one species of “Tench” is known (T. tinca), found all over
Europe in stagnant waters with soft bottom. The “Golden Tench” is
only a variety of colour, an incipient albinism like the Gold-fish and
Id. Like most other Carps of this group it passes the winter in a state
of torpidity, during which it ceases to feed. It is extremely prolific,
297,000 ova having been counted in one female; its spawn is of a
greenish colour.
Leucosomus.—Scales of moderate or small size; lateral line
present. Dorsal fin commencing opposite, or nearly opposite, to the
ventral. Anal fin short. Mouth anterior or sub-anterior; intermaxillaries
protractile. A very small barbel at the extremity of the maxillary. Lower
jaw with rounded margin, and with the labial folds well developed
laterally. Gill-rakers short; pseudobranchiæ. Pharyngeal teeth in a
double series.
A North American genus, to which belong some of the most
common species of the United States. L. pulchellus (the “Fall-fish,”
“Dace,” or “Roach”), one of the largest White-fishes of the Eastern
States, attaining to a length of 18 inches, and abundant in the rapids
of the larger rivers. L. corporalis (the “Chub”), common everywhere
from New England to the Missouri region.
Chondrostoma.—Scales of moderate size or small. Lateral line
terminating in the median line of the depth of the tail. Dorsal fin with
 not more than nine branched rays, inserted above the root of the
ventrals. Anal fin rather elongate, with ten or more rays. Mouth
inferior, transverse, lower jaw with a cutting edge, covered with a
brown horny layer. Barbels none. Gill-rakers short, fine;
pseudobranchiæ. Pharyngeal teeth 5 or 6 or 7.-7 or 6 or 5, knife-
shaped, not denticulated. Peritoneum black.
Seven species from the Continent of Europe and Western Asia.
Other Old World genera belonging to the Leuciscina are
Myloleucus, Ctenopharyngodon, and Paraphoxinus; from North
America: Mylopharodon, Meda, Orthodon, and Acrochilus.
IX. Rhodeina.—Anal fin of moderate length, with from nine to
twelve branched rays, extending forwards to below the dorsal.
Dorsal fin short, or of moderate length. Lateral line, if complete,
running along or nearly in the middle of the tail. Mouth with very
small, or without any barbels. Pharyngeal teeth in a single series.
Very small roach-like fishes inhabiting chiefly Eastern Asia and
Japan, one species (Rh. amarus) advancing into Central Europe.
The thirteen species known have been distributed among four
genera, Achilognathus, Acanthorhodeus, Rhodeus, and
Pseudoperilampus. In the females a long external urogenital tube is
developed annually during the spawning season. The European
species is known in Germany by the name of “Bitterling.”
X. Danionina.—Anal fin of moderate length or elongate, with not
less, and generally more, than eight branched rays. Lateral line
running along the lower half of the tail. Mouth with small, or without
any, barbels. Abdomen not trenchant. Pharyngeal teeth in a triple or
double series.
Small fishes from the East Indian Continent, Ceylon, the East
Asiatic Islands, and a few from East African Rivers, The genera
belonging to this group are Danio, Pteropsarion, Aspidoparia,
Barilius, Bola, Scharca, Opsariichthys, Squaliobarbus, and
Ochetobus: altogether about forty species.
XI. Hypophthalmichthyina.—Anal fin elongate. Lateral line
running nearly along the median line of the tail. Mouth without
barbels. Abdomen not trenchant. No dorsal spine. Pharyngeal teeth
in a single series.
One genus (Hypophthalmichthys) with two species from China.
XII. Abramidina.—Anal fin elongate. Abdomen, or part of the
abdomen, compressed.

Fig. 275.—The Bream ( Abramis brama).

Abramis.—Body much compressed, elevated, or oblong. Scales of
moderate size. Lateral line present, running in the lower half of the tail.
Dorsal fin short, with spine, opposite to the space between ventrals
and anals. Lower jaw generally shorter, and rarely longer than the
upper. Both jaws with simple lips, the lower labial fold being
interrupted at the symphysis of the mandible. Upper jaw protractile.
Gill-rakers rather short; pseudobranchiæ. The attachment of the
branchial membrane to the isthmus takes place at some distance
behind the vertical from the orbit. Pharyngeal teeth in one or two
series, with a notch near the extremity. Belly behind the ventrals
compressed into an edge, the scales not extending across it.
The “Breams” are represented in the temperate parts of both
northern hemispheres; in Europe there occur the “Common Bream,”
A. brama; the “Zope,” A. ballerus; A. sapa; the “Zärthe,” A. vimba; A.
elongatus; the “White Bream,” A. blicca; A. bipunctatus. Of these A.
brama and A. blicca are British; the former being one of the most
common fishes, and sometimes attaining to a length of two feet.
Crosses between these two species, and even with other Cyprinoids,
are not rare. Of the American species A. americanus (“Shiner,”
“Bream”) is common and widely distributed; like the European Bream
it lives chiefly in stagnant waters or streams with a slow current.
Aspius.—Body oblong; scales of moderate size; lateral line
complete, terminating nearly in the middle of the depth of the tail.
Dorsal fin short, without spine, opposite to the space between the
ventrals and anal; anal fin elongate, with thirteen or more rays. Lower
jaw more or less conspicuously projecting beyond the upper. Lips thin,
simple, the lower labial fold being at the symphysis; upper jaw but little
protractile. Gill-rakers short and widely set; pseudobranchiæ. The
attachment of the branchial membrane to the isthmus takes place
below the hind margin of the orbit. Pharyngeal teeth hooked, 5. 3.-3 or
2. 5 or 4. Belly behind the ventrals compressed, the scales covering
the edge.
Four species from Eastern Europe to China.
Alburnus.—Body more or less elongate; scales of moderate size;
lateral line present, running below the median line of the tail. Dorsal fin
short, without spine, opposite to the space between ventrals and anal;
anal fin elongate, with more than thirteen rays. Lower jaw more or less
conspicuously projecting beyond the upper. Lips thin, simple, the
lower labial fold being interrupted at the symphysis of the mandible.
Upper jaw protractile. Gill-rakers slender, lanceolate, closely set;
pseudobranchiæ. The attachment of the branchial membrane to the
isthmus takes place below the hind margin of the orbit. Pharyngeal
teeth in two series, hooked. Belly behind the ventrals compressed into
an edge, the scales not extending across it.
“Bleak” are numerous in Europe and Western Asia, fifteen
species being known. The common Bleak (A. alburnus) is found
north of the Alps only, and represented by another species (A.
alburnellus, “Alborella,” or “Avola”) in Italy.
Of the other genera referred to this group, Leucaspius and
Pelecus belong to the European Fauna; Pelotrophus is East African;
all the others occur in the East Indies or the temperate parts of Asia,
viz. Rasborichthys, Elopichthys, Acanthobrama (Western Asia),
Osteobrama, Chanodichthys, Hemiculter, Smiliogaster, Toxabramis,
Culter, Eustira, Chela, Pseudolabuca, and Cachius.
 XIII. Homalopterina.—Dorsal and anal fins short, the former
opposite to ventrals. Pectoral and ventral fins horizontal, the former
with the outer rays simple. Barbels six or none. Air-bladder absent.
Pharyngeal teeth in a single series, from ten to sixteen in number.
Inhabitants of hill-streams in the East Indies; they are of small
size and abundant where they occur. Thirteen species are known
belonging to the genera Homaloptera, Gastromyzon, Crossostoma,
and Psilorhynchus.
XIV. Cobitidina.—Mouth surrounded by six or more barbels.
Dorsal fin short or of moderate length; anal fin short. Scales small,
rudimentary, or entirely absent. Pharyngeal teeth in a single series,
in moderate number. Air-bladder partly or entirely enclosed in a bony
capsule. Pseudobranchiæ none: Loaches.
Misgurnus.—Body elongate, compressed. No sub-orbital spine.
Ten or twelve barbels, four belonging to the mandible. Dorsal fin
opposite to the ventrals; caudal rounded.
Four species from Europe and Asia. M. fossilis is the largest of
European Loaches, growing to a length of ten inches; it occurs in
stagnant waters of eastern and southern Germany and northern
Asia. In China and Japan it is replaced by an equally large species,
M. anguillicaudatus.
Nemachilus.—No erectile sub-orbital spine. Six barbels, none at
the mandible. Dorsal fin opposite to the ventrals.
The greater number of Loaches belong to this genus; about fifty
species are known from Europe and temperate Asia; such species
as extend into tropical parts inhabit streams of high altitudes.
Loaches are partial to fast-running streams with stony bottom, and
exclusively animal feeders. In spite of their small size they are
esteemed as food where they occur in sufficient abundance. The
British species, N. barbatulus, is found all over Europe except
Denmark and Scandinavia.
Cobitis.—Body more or less compressed, elongate; back not
arched. A small, erectile, bifid sub-orbital spine below the eye. Six
barbels only on the upper jaw. Dorsal fin inserted opposite to ventrals.
Caudal rounded or truncate.
 Only three species are known, of which C. tænia occurs in
Europe. It is scarce and very local in Great Britain.
Botia.—Body compressed, oblong; back more or less arched.
Eyes with a free circular eyelid; an erectile bifid sub-orbital spine. Six
barbels on the upper jaw, sometimes two others at the mandibulary
symphysis. Dorsal fin commencing in advance of the root of the
ventrals; caudal fin forked. Air-bladder consisting of two divisions: the
anterior enclosed in a partly osseous capsule, the posterior free,
floating in the abdominal cavity.

Fig. 276.—Botia rostrata. From

Bengal.
This genus is more tropical than any of the preceding, and the
majority of the species (eight in number) are finely coloured. The
more elevated form of their body, and the imperfect ossification of
the capsules of the air-bladder, the divisions of which are not side by
side, but placed in the longitudinal axis of the body, indicate likewise
that this genus is more adapted for still waters of the plains than for
the currents of hill-streams.
Other genera from tropical India are Lepidocephalichthys,
Acanthopsis, Oreonectes (hills near Hong-Kong), Paramisgurnus
(Yan-tse-Kiang), Lepidocephalus, Acanthophthalmus, and Apua.

Fourth Family—Kneriidæ.
Body scaly, head naked. Margin of the upper jaw formed by the
intermaxillaries. Dorsal and anal fins short, the former belonging to
the abdominal portion of the vertebral column. Teeth none, either in
the mouth or pharynx. Barbels none. Stomach siphonal; no pyloric