208 THE RIVER-SIDE NATURALIST. 



up at table big enough to fill a large dish. The largest 

 carp recorded in this country was one killed at Pain's Hill, 

 Cobham, which weighed 26 Ibs. 



Some of the carp at Fontainebleau are said to be 200 

 years old, and the custodians show some which they say 

 are white from age ; but Buckland states that this colour is 

 due to disease, and not to age. 



In the carp the mouth is small, a barbule at the upper 

 part of each corner of the mouth, with a second smaller 

 one above, on each side ; teeth pharyngeal ; nostrils large ; 

 eyes small ; gill-covers marked with striae, radiating from 

 the anterior edge ; nape and back rising suddenly. 



The dorsal fin has 21 to 25 rays; pectoral, 15 to 16; 

 ventral, 8 ; anal, 7 to 8 ; caudal, 20, forked ; the caudal 

 rays of the two halves of the tail always unequal. 



The body is covered with large scales ; the general 

 colour olive-brown, head darkest ; belly yellowish-white ; 

 lateral line interrupted and straight ; irides golden-yellow ; 

 fins dark-brown. 



Day ("The Fishes of Great Britain and Ireland," p. 

 158, vol. ii.) says: "It has been observed that the fishes 

 which afford the best evidence of a ruminating action are 

 Cyprinoids, as carp, tench, and bream, when peristaltic 

 movements occur in the alimentary canal, and successive 

 regurgitations of the contents of the stomach induce actions 

 of the pharyngeal jaws as the half-bruised food comes in 

 contact with them, and excites a succession of swellings 

 and subsidences of the irritable palate as portions of the 

 regurgitated food are pressed against it. On the occiput, 

 behind the roof of the palate, is a single grinding tooth or 

 plate, which has opposed to it the two inferior pharyngeal 

 bones armed with teeth ; while in the front of this plate, 

 and forming the roof of the palate, is a thick, soft, vascular, 

 and highly sensitive mass, which becomes thinner ante- 

 riorly, and is believed to be useful in taste, being supplied 

 by branches of the glosso-pharyngeal nerves. This mass 

 is commonly known as the ' carp's tongue/ and held in 

 great esteem among epicures." 



