THE CARP AND ITS CULTURE. 861 



1. Gyprimis carpio communis, the scale carp ; with regular, concentric- 

 ally-arranged scales, being, in fact, the original species improved. 



2. Cyprinus carpio specularis, the mirror carp ; thus named on account 

 of the extraordinarily large scales, which run along the sides of the 

 body in three or four rows, the rest of the body being bare. 



3. Cyprinus carpio coriaceus, sine nudtis, the leather carp; which has on 

 the back either only a few scales or none at all, and possesses a thick, 

 soft skin, which feels velvety to the touch. 



The two last named are distinguished from the original form by a 

 somewhat shorter and stouter, but more fleshy body. It is rather diffi- 

 cult to decide which of these three species is the most suitable for cul- 

 ture. There are some districts where only scale carp are bred and mir- 

 ror carp are not valued, as there is no demand for any but the former 

 in the market, as, for instance, in Bohemia, in the above-mentioned do- 

 main of Wittiugau. Again, in other districts, as in parts of Bavaria and 

 Saxony, &c., for the same reason, mirror carp or leather carp only are bred. 

 There is, in fact, no sufficient reason for making any distinction among 

 these three varieties, for if they are genuine types of their respective 

 species they are indeed excellent and desirable fish. 



The assertion which has been made at times that the scale carp is 

 better adapted for transportation than either the mirror or leather carp 

 by reason of its coat of scales, which would protect it more efficiently 

 from the accidents incidental to transfer, as also against inimical or 

 hurtful attacks in the ponds, (the mirror carp having very few and the 

 leather carp no scales,) is not correct. In transportation scales are not 

 only inefficient for protection, but they frequently cause the death of the 

 fish, especially in transporting the so-called breeding-fish, for if a scale 

 be torn off in part only ulceration will ensue, and the fish, of course, will 

 die. Again, should any scale be lost the bare spot will very soon begin 

 to fester or develop a confervaceous growth and the consequences will 

 be the same. On the contrary, the leather carp, which, oddly enough, 

 like the frog, is destitute of covering, will bear a great deal more ill 

 usage and injury, whether young or old, than the scale carp. The 

 smooth, slippery skin of the leather carp suffers much less from fric- 

 tion during transportation than the scale carp, and any slight wound 

 will heal up much more easily, as the epithelium will cover it immedi- 

 ately and the formation of a new skin can progress under its protection. 

 I have often had the opportunity of seeing such scars upon the skin of 

 the mirror carp and even more so on that of the leather carp. They 

 are the effects of an injury from the sharp edges of the heron's bill, the 

 bite of a pike, or some other hurt, and I never saw anything of the kind 

 on a scale carp, for if one of these be wounded it almost invariably dies- 



The carp will sometimes cross with some related species of the 

 Cyprinidce ; for instance, Carassius vulgaris; and, in consequence, hy- 

 brids have been engendered, which sometimes resemble the genuine 

 carp so much that it is often difficult for the student as well as for 



