loo BRITISH FRESH-WATER FISHES 



Europe, Asia, and North America, most of the fossil species 

 being referable to existing genera. The body is usually clad 

 with scales, the fin rays are articulated, the jaws toothless, 

 but the pharyngeal bones are furnished with teeth in one, 

 two, or three rows. The air-bladder is large, divided by 

 constriction into two portions, enclosed in a bony capsule. 

 Dr. Ganther has subdivided this family into fourteen groups, 

 whereof the second, Cyprinina^ includes the true carps. 



The Carp {Cyprinus carpio) 



Fin Formula. 

 Dorsal: 21 rays, of which the first is bony and 



serrated. 

 Pectoral : 16 or 17 rays, of which the first is bony. 

 Ventral : 10 rays, of which the first is bony. 

 Afial : 8 rays, of which the first is bony. 

 Caudal : 17 to 19 rays. 



Teeth. 

 Jaws toothless; 

 pharyngeal teeth 

 in three series, 

 molar-like. 



The carp is not indigenous to Britain, being a native of 

 Chinese waters, but it has become thoroughly naturalised over 

 the greater part of Europe. The name is of unknown origin, 

 having found its way into every European language, and 

 thence meandered back into late Latin, being mentioned by 

 Cassiodorus (XII. 4) in the fifth century. Probably the 

 Eastern name travelled westward with the fish, for Aristotle 

 speaks of a fish with a soft, fleshy mouth, which he calls 

 KVTrplvos — cyprinus — apparently the same word as " carp " 

 by transposition of the second and third consonants. 



There be writers who confidently fix the exact date of 

 the introduction of the carp into England, and others there 

 be who, with equal confidence, give different dates. Dame 

 Juliana Berners, writing in i486, mentions it as "a daynteous 

 fysshe, but there ben but few in Englonde, and thereforre I 

 wryte the lesse of hym." It is a pity that, while they were 

 about it, its importers had not chosen a better fish. Fish 



