CARASSITTS VULGARIS. 



107 



over the Continent from Scandinavia, where it spawns in June, sonthward to 

 Palermo, in Sicily ; and from France and Belgium eastward to Siberia, where 

 iu some districts, according" to Blanchard, it is an important food product. In 

 Austria it is found in the Theiss and other tributaries of the Danube, as well 

 as in the Flatten See and Neusiedler See. 



The synonymy of this species is somewhat difficult. 



The Crucian Carp which we have described is recognised as such by all 

 writers, but the varieties have been variously named. The Prussian Carp is 



Fig. 41 — CARASSIUS MOLES (aGASSIz). 



regarded as a distinct form, and by most writers is referred to the Cyprinns 

 g'ibelio of Bloch (Fig. -12). Dr. Giinther regards this as a mere variety of the 

 Camss/us vulgaris, following the views of Eckstrom, and he includes with 

 this type the Cyjjrinus moles of Agassiz (Fig. 41), which the Austrian 

 naturalists, Heckel and Kner, rank as a species, distinct from the Cypri)ni8 

 gibelio. The Carassius oblongns of Heckel and Kner (Fig. 44) is also classed 

 by Von Siebold and Giinther as a variety of the Prussian Carp. Hence 

 naturalists are divided as to the importance to be attached to the characters 

 which distinguish these fishes, though there is very little difference of opinion 

 as to the propriety of separating them. 



Carassius vulgaris, var. gibelio (Fig. 42). — In this fish the lateral compres- 

 sion and height of the body are less than in the type, the height of the body 

 being less than half the length. The head is more massive, with a blunter snout. 

 The aperture of the jaws is nearly vertical, and its angle scarcely reaches so far 



