290 ' REPORT—1845, az or VK 
CyPRINUS NIGRO-AURATUS, Lacépéde, v. p. 547. pl. 16. f.2; C. et V. xvi. 
p- 73. Icon. Reeves, 119; Hardw. Malac. 1. -Chinese name, Hae de, 
“ Sea-carp”” (Reeves, Birch); Hoi li (Bridgem, Chrest.16). Length of 
the drawing 15} inches. 
If one may judge from the size of the figure, this is the largest true carp that came under 
Mr. Reeves’s observation. Its profile rises very considerably in a bold arch to the dorsal, with 
a shallow transverse groove before the nostrils and a slight undulation at the nape. The 
belly is flattish, The height of the body is contained thrice in the total length, and the length 
of the head four times and a half. The mouth is rather oblique, and the upper jaw goes 
beyond and somewhat overhangs the lower one. The upper barbels are short*. The lateral 
line, which is traced on thirty-one scales, is slightly decurved, and descends a little below the 
middle height, taking a straight course through thg middle of the tail after passing (the ven- 
trals. No streaks are shown on the gill-covers. The long, low dorsal commences behind 
the tip of the pectorals and before the ventrals, and reaches past the middle of the anal. The 
pectorals and ventrals are small and rounded. The rays shown in the figure are D, 1|21; 
A. 2|5. The dorsal spine is serrated; but the anal one, which is longer and stronger, is re- 
presented as smooth. The colours are not dark, the scales having much silvery lustre: they 
are shaded at the base with olive-green on the back, and with pale honey-yellow on the lower 
parts. 
M. Valenciennes mentions that he saw two paintings of this species in the library of Sir 
Joseph Banks, but I have been able to discover only one of these, and it is the only true Cy- 
prinus with barbels contained in the collection named *Icones Piscium 24, &c.’ The figure is 
10 inches long and 383 inches high, and its pectoral fin has been omitted. The name of nigro- 
auratus is not characteristic either of this drawing or of Mr. Reeves’s, which show much more 
lively colours than M. Lacépéde describes, as M. Valenciennes has remarked. But for the 
observation of the latter naturalist, who has examined the Chinese drawings on which M. La- 
cépéde’s species are founded, I should have been inclined to quote Mr. Reeves’s darkest draw- 
ing, our atro-virens, as corresponding best with the epithet nigro-auratus. 
Hab. Canton. 
CyPRINUS SCULPONEATUS, Richardson. Icon. Reeves, 120; Hardw. Malac. 
8. Chinese name, Keth le (Birch); “Clog or Wooden-shoe carp ” (Reeves); 
Kik li (Bridgem. Chrest.21). Length of figure 83 inches, 
This species differs from the preceding ones in form, the dorsal being more flatly arched 
and the belly more prominent, with a considerable upward slope behind to join the trunk of 
the tail. The height of the body is contained thrice and one-half, and the length of the head 
four times and a quarter in the whole length. The lateral line, which is considerably de- 
curved, but does not descend beyond the middle height, is traced on twenty-nine scales. The 
barbels are rather short. The dorsal commences over the first ventral ray, and the greater 
part of the anal is posterior to its termination. The rays shown in the figure are D. 2|17 or 
18; A. 2|5. The spines are serrated and shorter than the soft rays. A valve is shown be- 
tween the nostrils. 
The scales have much silvery Instre, and are almost wholly nacry below the lateral line ; 
but the back is tinted with leek-green, which deepens into blackish-green at the base of the 
scales and forms spots. The edges of the upper scales are also darker leek-green, and the 
top of the head is of the same colour, There are carmine tints on the lips and tips of the anal 
and caudal. The pectoral, dorsal and caudal, are leek-green, the ventrals and anal very pale 
ochre, , 
Hab. Canton, 
Obs. The seven species noticed above seem all to be true Cyprini, allied 
to the common carp of Europe; and their existence in the Chinese waters 
shows a marked difference between the ichthyology of that country and of 
India, which does not appear to possess any member of this group. The 
Cyprinus semiplotus of M‘Clelland is indeed introduced among the true carps 
with barbels in the ‘ Histoire des Poissons’ ; but this would appear to be from 
inadvertence, as the figure in the ‘ Asiatic Researches’ (19. pl. 37. f. 2), and 
* On first looking at the figure only the barbels which hang from the corners of the 
mouth are seen; but on examining more narrowly, we may perceive that the painter has 
drawn the upper barbels lying close to the maxillary. 
