MALACOPTERYGIANS : CYPRINID^. 34! 



SUB-SECTION II. 



THE ORDER OF ABDOMINAL MALACOPTERYGIANS. 



THIS Order comprises fishes in which the ventrals are 

 suspended to the under part of the abdomen, and behind 

 the pectorals, without being attached to the bones of the 

 shoulder. It contains a large majority of all fresh-water 

 fishes. 



CYPRINID.E, OR CARP FAMILY. This Family com- 

 prises scaly fishes which have a slightly cleft mouth, and 

 weak jaws without teeth. Of all fishes, they are the least 

 carnivorous. About two hundred and seventy species 

 have been described. 



The Genus Cyprinus contains the Carps proper. 



The Common Carp, C. carpio, Linn., of Europe, attains 

 the length of four feet, is olive green, yellowish beneath. 

 It is bred in fish-ponds, and esteemed for food. In 

 1831, Henry Robinson, Esq., of Newburgh, N. Y., intro- 

 duced this species into his fish-pond, where it increased 

 and grew so rapidly, that he had more than enough to 

 supply his table. He afterwards put many of them into 

 the Hudson River, and these have so increased, that they 

 are often taken by the fishermen. 



The Golden Carp, or Gold-Fish, C. auratus, Linn., com- 

 mon in aquaria and vases, is indigenous to China. It was 

 introduced into Europe early in the seventeenth century. 

 It breeds in ponds in various parts of the United States. 



The Genus Leuciscus, as formerly defined, includes the 

 Dace and Shiners of the United States ; but writers now 

 refer these fishes to several genera. The Brook-Minnow, 

 or Black-nosed Dace, L. atronasus, Cuv. & Val., Rhinich- 

 thys atronasus, Ag., is three inches long, tail forked, color 

 greenish above, abdomen silvery, and a dark band from 

 the nose to the tail. The Common Shiner, Plargyrus 



