196 FAMILY OP THE OYPRINJDiE. 



CYPRINlDiE. 



THE COMMON CARP. 



Cyprinus Carpio—l,mti]EV?,, Cuvier. 



Of this family, CyprinidfB, the principal characteristics are a 

 mouth slightly cleft ; weak, and generally toothless jaws ; 

 pharyngeal bones strongly dentated ; one dorsal fin ; branchial 

 rays few in number ; to which may be added large fleshy lips, 

 and bodies covered with large scales. 



It comprises eighty or ninety well-known American species, 

 not one of which is worthy of notice, as either a fish of sport or 

 a dainty. There are in America no Carps proper, indigenous 

 to the country — no Barbels — no Cobitis, or loaches. Leucisci, 

 analogous to, though by no means — as stated by Dr. J. V. C. 

 Smith, of Massachusetts — identical with the Chub, Roach, 

 Dace, and Bleak of Europe, are found in abundance under the 

 above names, but still more commonly as Shiners. The genus 

 Abramis, Bream, has again several representatives in the waters 

 of North America, but none either of this or the last subgenus 

 can attain to dimensions which lead the angler to trouble him- 

 self about them, unless it be as bait for other fish, as Pike and 

 Perch, for which purpose several of these fish are better 



