

Vol. III. 



JANUAKY, 1894. 



Copyright 1893. All Rights Reserved. 



No. 30. 



DENOMINATIVE CHARACTER- 

 ISTICS OF FRESH WATER 

 FISHES. 



IV. 

 THE CARP-LIKE FISHES. 



CyijrinidcB {continued). 



THE CRUSSIAN CARP. 



( Carrasius vulgaris) 

 Die Karausclie. Le Carassin. 



The body of this fish is short and 

 compressed, much like that of our 

 American pumpkin-seed sunfish, and 

 is covered with medium sized scales. 

 The head is large and blunt, the lips 

 not supplied with barbies, the eyes sil- 

 very. The color along the back is 

 either brown, with a golden hue or 

 dark green ; the sides are golden, and 

 the abdomen, if the back is green, sil- 

 very, and yellowish if the back is brown. 

 The dorsal fin is large, extending 

 from the middle of the back nearly to 

 the tail ; the abdominal fins are tinted 

 with red and rather set off the appear- 

 ance of the fish. The flesh is very 

 agreeable to the palate, but unfortu- 

 nately the fish never grows to any size, 

 not exceeding two pounds in weight. 

 The spawning season occurs at the 



same period as the carp's and follows 

 the same plan ; the eggs, too, are ad- 

 hesive. The species is a dangerous 

 one to put in ponds in company 

 with carp, for the reason that hybrids 

 of no value are produced, which only 

 create confusion, do not benefit the 

 stock, and are readily mistaken for the 

 real carp. The hybrid possesses but 

 two barbies, short and blunt, which 

 fact is about the only one by which 

 they may be distinguished. 



THE GOLDEN CRUSSIAN CARP. 



Carassius aureus. 

 Die Gold Karausclie. Carassin d'or. 



This is a much more valuable variety 

 than the preceding,and like it,a native of 

 Germany and in shape the same. They 

 both live exclusively in standing water, 

 often in stagnant pools ; this habit fit- 

 ting them particularly for the aquarium 

 to which they become accustomed 

 without any trouble, at the same time 

 constituting a beautiful acquisition. 

 They commence spawning as early as 

 one year of age. At two or three years 

 old the golden crussian changes its 

 color, becoming a bright and beautiful 

 scarlet. 



