SILKEN CARP. 221 



rather a Bream in miniature : colour yellowish olive 

 above, pale or whitish beneath : scales large for the 

 size of the fish : dorsal fin placed in the middle of 

 the back, and resembling that of a Carp in shape : 

 anal fin of similar appearance also : tail slightly 

 divided : all the fins of a pale yellow colour, except 

 the pectoral, which are small, and of a pale blue. 

 Native of Germany, and several other parts of 

 Europe, inhabiting lakes and rivers : it is hardly 

 considered in the light of an edible fish, being of a 

 bitter flavour, and so small and thin as to be not 

 worth the trouble of preparation. 



SILKEN CARP. 



Cyprinus Sericeus. C. violacco-argenteiis nitidissimus, abdomine 

 roseo, fascia utrinque longitudinali wridi-cyanca. 



Brilliant violet-silvery Carp, with rose-coloured abdomen,, and 

 a blue-green longitudinal stripe on each side. 



Cyprinus sericeus. C. pinna dorsali radiis decem, anali undecim, 

 cauda exfusco rubente. Lin. Gmcl Pall. it. 3. p. 704. 



A VERY small, but highly elegant species : length 

 scarcely two inches : shape like that of the Crusian : 

 colour bright silvery, accompanied by a blue or 

 violet cast, and towards the abdomen pale rose- 

 colour : on each side the body a longitudinal 

 broadish blue-green stripe : ventral and anal fins 

 bright red, tipped with black : tail brown. Native 

 of slowly-running streams in many parts of Dauria, 

 where, according to Dr. Pallas, it is extremely 

 plentiful. 



