170 Series Ostariophysi 



of Asia and Europe. The common Japanese dace (Leuciscus 

 hakuensis) is often found out in the sea, but, in general, 

 Cyprinida are only found in fresh waters. The genus of 

 barbels (Barbus} contains many large species in Europe and 

 Asia. In these the barbel is better developed than in most 

 other genera, a character which seems to indicate a primitive 

 organization. Barbus mosal of the mountains of India is said 

 to reach a length of more than six feet and to have "scales 

 as large as the palm of the hand." 



The Carp and Goldfish. In the American and European Cy- 

 prinida the fin is few-rayed, but in many Asiatic species it is 

 longer, having 15 to 20 rays and is often preceded by a ser- 

 rated spine like that of a catfish. Of the species with long 

 dorsal the one most celebrated is the carp (Cyprinus carpio}. 

 This fish is a native of the rivers of China, where it has been 

 domesticated for centuries. Nearly three hundred years ago it 

 was brought to northern Europe, where it has multiplied in 

 domestication and become naturalized in many streams and 

 ponds. Of late years the cultivation of the carp has attracted 

 much attention in America. It has been generally satisfactory 

 where the nature of the fish is understood and where expecta- 

 tions have not been too high. 



The carp is a dull and sluggish fish, preferring shaded, tran- 

 quil, and weedy waters with muddy bottoms. Its food con- 

 sists of water insects and other small animals, and vegetable 

 matter, such as the leaves of aquatic plants. They can be 

 fed on much the same things as pigs and chickens, and they 

 bear much the same relation to trout and bass that pigs and 

 chickens do to wild game and game-birds. The carp is a very 

 hardy fish, grows rapidly, and has immense fecundity, 700,000 

 eggs having been found in the ovaries of a single individual. 

 It reaches sometimes a weight of 30 to 40 pounds. As a food- 

 fish the carp cannot be said to hold a high place. It is tolerated 

 in the absence of better fish. 



The carp, either native or in domestication, has many ene- 

 mies. In America, catfish, sunfish, and pike prey upon its eggs 

 or its young, as well as water-snakes, turtles, kingfishes, cray- 

 fishes, and many other creatures which live about our ponds 

 and in sluggish streams. In domestication numerous varieties 



