PISCES. 2 1 5 



7, is another ; the silvery pigment h'ninrr whose scales is used in the manu- 

 lacture of artificial [)earls. 'riiica vvl4i;aris {pi 84, fi.<^. 12) sotnetitnes 

 attains a considerable size. Gohio JluviaiUis (Jiff, o) is likewise extensively 

 distributed. Barbus vulfraris (pi. 84, fig. 10), or the barbel, a fish of some 

 reputation among anglers, has been known to attain a weight of 15ilbs. 

 Cyprinus auratus, or the common gold fish {pi. Hb, fig. 12), is pre-eminently 

 conspicuous among fresh-water fish for the beauty of the colors. The young 

 fish is of a brown color, in which, after a time, there appear silver specks, 

 which increase until the entire fish becomes silvery white. In this state it 

 is known as the silver fish. Subsequently it gradually assumes a golden red 

 color. The true home of this fish, called kin-yu in C^hina, appears to be a 

 lake near Tschang-IIon in the jjrovince of The-Kiang, whence it was 

 carried to the different waters of China and Japan, and subsequently to 

 Europe. It is generally kept in glass globes, or small vessels, in the house, 

 care being taken to provide an abundance of fresh water every day. The 

 gold fish are easily kept in fish ponds, where they multiply rapidly. In the 

 cisterns or tanks used to contain the water for condensing the steam of 

 steam-engines, they thrive remarkably well, owing to the amount of greasy 

 matter floating on the surface ; even though the temperature of the water 

 reaches 100^ F. and upwards. The river Schuylkill, near Philadelphia, is 

 well stocked with gold fish, from individuals which escaped from certain fish 

 ponds near that city. They also occur in the Hudson River. 



When kept in globes, the gold fish devour insects, worms, bread, fat earth, 

 &c., with avidity at certain times, although they totally refuse all food at 

 others. They eat pieces of cracker with great greediness ; care, however, 

 should be taken, not to give them more than they can consume at the time, 

 as any portion uneaten, when dissolved in the water, affects its respiratory 

 properties. In confinement, the form is apt to vary considerably, certain 

 monstrosities, as three or four tails, being sometimes produced. 'I'hese fish 

 spawn in May, and if not watched will eat their own eggs. This should be 

 prevented by removing the latter to a separate vessel, and exposing to the 

 sun. The flesh is very pleasantly flavored. 



Another species, Cyprinus carpio (a variety of which, Cyprinus rex 

 cyprinorum, \s shown in pi. 8i, fig. 11), is found abundantly throughout 

 Europe, where it is highly prized as an article of food. For this purpose it 

 is kept in preserves and ponds, where it attains to a large size. Individuals 

 of eighteen pounds' weight have occasionally been caught. Like the gold 

 fish, this carp has been naturalized in North Ameri^ba, especially in the 

 Hudson River, where it abounds, and is protected by legislative enact- 

 ment. 



North America abounds in species of Cyprinidtr., many of which are yet 

 undescribed. With species belonging to some of the genera above- 

 mentioned, as Alburnus, Gohio, &lc., there are many of genera peculiar to 

 herself. No true Cyprinus is, however, found, nor perhaps Barbus, although 

 there are many species with the barbels characteristic of these genera. 

 Closely allied to Leuciscus, in size and general structure, but differing in 

 the possession of barbels, is the genus Chilonemus, one species of which, C. 



419 



