110 THE FRESH- WATER FISHES OF EUROPE. 



The extremities of the caudal fin are more pointed than in other varieties, 

 and the terminal caudal rays are quite as long as the head. 



The longest specimen of this variety found in Austria measures rather less 

 than six inches. It is known in that part of Europe from Galicia, Lemberg, 

 the Styrian rivers, and the Carpathians. The British Museum possesses spe- 

 cimens obtained by Professor Von Siebold from Munich and Eastern Prussia; 

 and Dr. Giinther records it from Norway and the Baltic. 



There is a variety of the Crucian Carp, which Heckel regarded as a 

 distinct species, and named Caraasius kumilis. It is about three inches long, 

 and known only from a lake at Palermo. 



The back is less elevated and the head is thicker ; the scales are larger, the 

 caudal fin is longer, and the abdomen silver-white. The pectoral fins are more 

 elongated, and when laid back, cover the bases of the ventral fins. The caudal 

 fin is one-quarter of the total length of the fish, and is deeply notched. There 

 are four compressed pharyngeal teeth in a row ; the hindermost have their 

 crowns broader than the bases. 



The back of the fish is black, becoming silver- white on sides and abdomen, 

 like that variety of the Golden Carp which is known as the Silver-fish. 



Carassius auratus (LINNAEUS). The Gold Fish. 



D. 19, A. 8. Scales: lat. 26, transverse 12. 



The home of the Golden Carp, popularly known as Gold Fish, is in China 

 and its islands, and Japan. There is no record of its introduction into Europe, 

 but it is commonly stated to have reached England in the seventeenth century. 

 It is now domesticated in nearly all civilised parts of the world, and under 

 varied conditions of existence has developed varieties even more numerous and 

 remarkable than those which are met with in its original home. Dr. Giinther 

 states that in Europe the form of the body is ordinarily more elevated than 

 in Asia, and the fish usually has a larger number of longitudinal rows of scales 

 above the lateral line. 



It is the only fish which is truly domesticated. The form of the body is of 

 moderate length, thick, so as sometimes to be well rounded, with a less 

 elevation than is seen in the other species of the genus. The head is massive 

 and obtuse, with the jaws equal and the operculum striated. There are 

 twenty-five to twenty-eight rows of large round scales in the length of the 

 body. There are usually four rows of scales above the lateral line, and seven 

 rows below. The dorsal fin has the rays branched, and varying in number 

 from fifteen to eighteen, defended in front by a large, curved, denticulated spine. 

 The anal fin has three bony rays, followed by five soft branched rays. The 



