35° 



R P. Class IV. 



preferring fo ufeful a clafs of animals for the fer- 

 vice of its other creatures. 



Thefe fifh are extremely cunning, and on that 

 account are by fome ftyled the river fox. They 

 will fometimes leap over the nets, and efcape that 

 way ; at others, will immerfe themfelves fo deep 

 in the mud, as to let the net pafs over them. 

 They are alfo very fhy of taking a bait ; yet at the 

 fpawning time they are fo fimple, as to fuffer them- 

 felves to be tickled, handled, and caught by any 

 body that will attempt it. 



This fifh is apt to mix its milt with the roe of 

 other fi(h, from which is produced a fpurious breed : 

 we have feen the offspring of the carp and tench, 

 which bore the greater!; refemblance to the firft: 

 have alfo heard of the fame mixture between ths 

 carp and bream. 

 Bescrip. The carp is of a thick fhape : the fcales very- 

 large, and when in beft feafon of a fine gilded hue. 



The jaws are of equal length; there are two 

 teeth in the jaws, or on the tongue; but at the en- 

 trance of the gullet, above and below, are certain 

 bones that act on each other, and comminute the 

 food before it pafTes down, 



On each fide of the mouth is a fingle beard ; 

 above thofe on each fide another, but fhorter : the 

 dorfal fin extends far towards the tail, which is a 

 little bifurcated; the third ray of the dorfal fin 

 is very ftrong, and armed with fliarp teeth, point- 

 ing 



