ORDER II. 



MALACOPTERYGII ABDOMINALES. 



Family I. 

 CYPRINIDiE. 



Cyprinus. Lin. 



Generic characters. Body covered with large scales ; a sin- 

 gle elongated dorsal Jin; lips fleshy ; mouth small; teeth in 

 the pharynx, but none on the jaws ; branchiostegons rays 3. 



C. auratus. Lin. The golden Carp. 



Pennant's British Zoology, vol. iii. p. 3'27. 

 Yarrell's British Fishes, vol. i. 3 1 5 et fig. 



This species is so well known that, did not this report con- 

 template a description of every fish known to inhabit our 

 waters, I should pass it by, after having merely included it in 

 my catalogue. It is found in quite a number of ponds in the 

 vicinity of Boston, connected with the country seats, bearing 

 perfectly well the rigors of our winters, and breeding in great 

 numbers. I have seen them at Brookline, Cambridge and 

 Brighton ; from the latter place, the specimens before me 

 were received, through the politeness of my friend Samuel 

 Downer, Jr. 



The following appearances are presented: Form oblong ; 

 body slightly arched from the occiput to the commencement of 

 the dorsal fin, and then gradually curved to the termination of 

 that fin. Color, a bright orange on the upper part of the body ; 

 lighter upon the sides ; white beneath. Scales large, exhibit- 



