FISHES OP NEW YORK 165 



about two and one half times in the total length without the 

 tail; the head is contained three and one third times in this 

 length. The head is small in front of eye, being depressed on 

 snout, and the dorsal profile from tip of snout to dorsal fin is 

 very steep. The rather small eye equals one fifth or less of 

 length of head. Mouth terminal, oblique, rather small, the 

 maxilla not reaching the vertical from front of eye. No barbels. 

 Teeth compressed, 4-4. The dorsal fin is high and long, com- 

 mencing over the seventh scale of the lateral line and running 

 back to near the caudal; its longest rays, first and second, a 

 little longer than the spine, equal to one half of depth of body, 

 or length of head from pupil to its posterior end. From the 

 third to the last the rays gradually decrease in size, the last 

 being less than half the length of the longest. The first dorsal 

 spine is minute, one fourth the length of second, which is strong 

 and coarsely serrated. The anal is short, the length of its base 

 being but two thirds the length of its longest rays; first spine 

 small, one third the length of second, which is stout and ser- 

 rated. Pectoral fin broad and rounded, its length three fifths 

 of that of head, or equal to longest anal ray. It reaches to 

 ventral, which is placed well forward. Caudal fin large; scales 

 large, deeper than long; lateral line median, complete, almost 

 straight. D. II, 18; A. II, 7; Y. 9. Scales 5-30-6. The specimen 

 described is from the fish ponds, at Washington D. C. Length 

 8 inches. 



The common goldfish or silverfish is- a native of Asia, whence 

 it was introduced into Europe and from there into America, 

 where it is now one of the commonest aquarium fishes and is 

 extremely abundant in many of our streams. In Pennsylvania 

 it abounds in the Delaware and Schu} Ikill river. 



De Kay made the following remarks about the goldfish, or 

 golden carp, as he styles it. 



The golden carp, or goldfish, as it is more generally called, 

 was introduced from China into Europe in the early part of the 

 17th century, and probably shortly after found its way to this 

 country. They breed freely in ponds in this and the adjoining 

 states. They are of no use as an article of food, but are kept 



