CARP AND BLEAK. 65 



feeds equally on vegetable and animal food. When 

 young the bronze tinge gives them a very pleasing 

 appearance. During the winter their habits are very 

 sluggish, even when the aquarium is kept within 

 doors ; and then they eat next to nothing, but pass 

 the time in a semi-hybernation. The Prussian carp 

 is even prettier than the above-mentioned species, pos- 



sessing a brighter colour and a more graceful shape. 

 It is very fond of warm water, and breeds in enormous 



I numbers in the fresh-water "lodges" or reservoirs into 

 which the steam-water flows from manufactories in 

 the north of England. No more hardy or useful fish 

 could be placed in the tank than this. The bleak 

 (Cyprinus alburnus} is another interesting and useful 



Fig. 24. 





The Bleak (Cyprinus alburnus). 



fish, one that will give little trouble, and which, 

 in the larger tanks, will prove of great service in 

 clearing away decomposing organic matter of all 

 sorts. Not long ago the scales of this fish were used 

 and ground up for the manufacture of artificial pearls. 

 The shape of these fishes is very graceful. They 



F 



