37(> ORDER MALACOPTERYGI1 ABDOMINALES. 



Such is 



Cyprinus carpio, (the common carp,) L. Bloch. 16. 

 A fish universally known ; green inclining to olive, 

 yellowish underneath, with the dorsal and anal spines 

 strong and denticulated, and the barbels short ; its 

 pharyngeal teeth are flat, and striated at the crown. 

 Originally from the central part of Europe, it lives 

 in our calm waters, where it attains as much as four 

 feet in length. It is easily reared in vivaries and ponds, 

 and its flesh is generally of an excellent flavour. 



Monstrous individuals of this species are pretty 

 frequently observed, with a forehead extremely 

 gibbous and a very short muzzle. 



A race with large scales is sometimes reared, cer- 

 tain individuals of which have the skin naked at in- 

 tervals, or even altogether so, and which is named 

 Queen of the carps, &c. (Cyprinus rex cyprinorum, 

 Bl. 17." J 



Other species are destitute of barbels. Such are, 

 in Europe, 



Cyprinus carassius, L. Bl. xi. Body very much ele- 

 vated, lateral line straight, head small, and caudal 

 cut squarely. 



1 The Cyprinus, Anne-Caroline, Lacep. V. xviii. 1. rouge-brnn, 

 Id. ib. xvi. 1., mordore, ib. 2., vert-violet, ib. 3., all known only 

 from Chinese paintings, approach very much to the carp. The 

 Chinese, who are fond of rearing fresh-water fish, succeed in obtain- 

 ing very different varieties, the figures of which are to be seen in 

 their collections ; but it would not be very safe to establish species 

 on documents like these alone. 



