THE CARP FAMILY. 



115 



fish, tail included, as 1 to 5 ; comparative depth of body to the same, 

 1 to 3. Head obtuse or Chub-like, eyes small, body rather short and 

 thick. Scales large. Number of lines of scales the same as in the 

 Crucian Carp. Mouth small, toothless ; throat-teeth as in the last 

 species. Tail forked at the end. Colour : upper part of back and head 

 olive-brown, sides lighter; belly almost white; the whole shining 

 with a brilliant golden metallic lustre. Back-fin and upper part of 

 tail brown, tinged with orange j pectoral, ventral, and anal fins orange- 

 red. Vertebrae 30. 



Fin-rays : D. 4 | 16 : P. 14 : V. 9 : A. 3 | 6 : C. 19. 



THE GOLD CARP. 



COMMON GOLD- AND SILVER-FISH. 



(Cyprinus auratua*.) 



This fish, from its brilliant colouring and ready power 

 of adapting itself to every variety of food and climate, is a 

 favourite ornament of the drawing-room in England and 

 in many other countries, and as such needs but little de- 

 scription. 



* Cyprimw, a Carp, auratus, golden, Lat. 



