CARPS. 591 



have any account is that mentioned by Bloch, taken near 

 Frankfort-on-the-Oder, which weighed seventy pounds, and 

 measured nearly nine feet in length, — a statement the accu- 

 racy of which is very much open to doubt. 



Like other domesticated animals the Carp is subject to 

 variation ; some individuals, especially when they have been 

 bred under unfavourable circumstances, have a lean and low 

 body ; others are shorter and higher. Some have lost every 

 trace of scales, and are called " Leather-carps ; " others retain 

 them along the lateral line and on the Imck only (" Spiegel- 

 karpfen " of the Germans). Finally, in some are the fins 

 much prolonged, as in certain varieties of the Gold-fish. 

 Cross-breeds between the Carp and the Crucian Carp are of 

 common occurrence. The Carp is much more esteemed as 

 food in inland countries than in countries where the more 

 delicate Idnds of sea fishes can be obtained. 



Carassius differs from Cyprinus in lacking barbels ; its 

 pharyngeal teeth are compressed, in a single series, 4-4. 



Two well-known species belong to this genus. The 

 " Crucian Carp " {0. carassius, " Karausche ") is generally 

 distributed over Central and Northern Europe, and extends 

 into Italy and Siberia. It inhabits stagnant w^aters only, 

 and is so tenacious of life that it will survive a lengthened 

 sojourn in the smallest pools, where, however, it remains 

 stunted ; whilst in favourable localities it attains to a length 

 of twelve inches. It is riiuch subject to variation of form ; 

 very lean examples are commonly called " Prussian Carps." 

 Its usefulness consists in keeping ponds clean from a super- 

 abundance of vegetable growth, and in serving as food for 

 other more esteemed fishes. The second species is the " Gold- 

 fish," Carassius auratus. It is of very common occurrence in 

 a wild state in China and the warmer parts of Japan, being 

 entirely similar in colour to the Crucian Carp, In a domes- 



