CARP. 



65 



CAKP. 



THE Carp is a native of the southern parts of 

 Europe, and was introduced into England in the 

 year 1514. The usual length of it is from twelve 

 to fifteen inches ; but it sometimes arrives at the 

 length of two or three feet, and weighs from twenty 

 to thirty pounds. Its general colour is a yellowish 

 olive, much deeper or browner on the back, and 

 accompanied with a slightly gilded tinge on the 

 sides ; the scales are large, rounded, and very 

 distinct ; the head is large, and the mouth furnished 

 on each side with a long beard or wattle, and above 

 the nostrils is a much smaller and shorter pair ; the 

 fins are violet brown, and the tail slightly forked. 



The Carp spawns in May, June, or July, accor- 

 ding as the warm season sets in; at this time it 

 swims to shallow, warm and sheltered places, when 

 the female deposits the spawn where the bottom ii 



