THE CARP. 115 



that of all fishes, is adapted for an entirely aquatic ex- 

 istence. 



The profile of the carp presents a wide body, flattened 

 at the sides, the back more or less arched in front and 

 dropping towards the head, which is short, having a 

 small mouth, with two fleshy processes, called barbels, at 

 each side. 



The body is not naked, as in the frog ; it is covered not 

 with hair nor feathers, but with little organs, called scales, 

 which are arranged in longitudinal rows ; from the head 

 to the tail each row contains about thirty-six or thirty- 



FIG. 64. 



CARP (Gyprinus carpio).a, pectoral fin; 6, ventral fin; c, anal fin; d, large 

 barbel ; e, dorsal fin. 



eight scales, and there are about a dozen rows, separated 

 into two nearly equal groups by a line that is apparent 

 in all fish, and known as the lateral line. 



The carp, being organized for life under water, does 

 not possess like the animals already studied long and 

 slender limbs. It has a special motor apparatus that 

 is common, with more or less modifications, to all 

 fishes. 



This apparatus is composed of two kinds of organs, 

 known as fins ; some of these are arranged on the sides 



