70 THE COMMON CARP. 



time is covered with small tubercles. It is said to be a very 

 prolific fish. 



Nilsson includes the C. Aphya, Linn., in the Scandinavian 

 Fauna, as a distinct species ; but Kroyer is of opinion that it 

 is identical with the C. Phoxinus, Linn. All the specimens 

 brought home by me from Sweden, were pronounced by 

 English Ichthyologists to be the latter. 



Besides the several species of Cyprini mentioned, Swedish 

 naturalists include three others of that genus, in the Scandi- 

 navian Fauna, viz. : 



The Common Carp (C. Carpio, Linn.) is confined almost 

 altogether to the more southern portion of Sweden. But 

 it is not indigenous to the country, though the period of its 

 introduction is unknown. In Denmark, according to Kroyer, 

 this is believed to have taken place about the year 1 5 60. 



This fish is very tenacious of life. It is exceedingly pro- 

 lific. Bloch counted in an individual of nine pounds weight, 

 six hundred thousand eggs, and Schneider in one of ten 

 pounds, seven hundred thousand eggs. It is said to attain 

 to a length of four feet, and a weight of forty pounds. 



The C. cultratus, Linn., which properly belongs to the 

 more southern and eastern part of Europe, is also included 

 in the Scandinavian Fauna, but it is only a very rare visitant 

 to the waters of the peninsula. 



This fish, Bloch tells us, differs from other fresh-water 

 fish, as well in internal as external structure. The back 

 is straight, the belly slender and edged as it were, for which 

 reason it in Sweden goes by the name of the Sktir-knif, 

 or chopping-knife ; in Austria Sichel, scythe; in Hungary 

 Sceblar, sabre ; . and in Prussia and Pomerania, owing to its 

 leanness, that of Ziege, or the goat. 



