THE CARP 171 



49 to 57 scales in the lateral line, 1 1 to 

 1 5 between origin of dorsal fin and 

 lateral line; dorsal fin usually with 9, 

 anal fin with 23 to 29 branched 



rays 13. Bream 



B. Body elongate ; anal fin with 15 to 20 

 branched rays 14. Bleak 



Three species of Carp are found in our islands ; 

 they are readily recognized by the long dorsal and 

 short anal fins, in each of which the last simple ray 

 is more or less distinctly spinous, and has the 

 posterior edge serrated. Of these three species, two, 

 the Common Carp and the Gold-fish, are natives of 

 China, and have been introduced into various parts 

 of the world ; the third, the Crucian Carp, is a 

 European species, but perhaps not indigenous to 

 Britain. 



THE COMMON CARP (Cyprinus carpio) is placed 

 in a genus distinct from that of the Crucian Carp 

 and Gold-fish (Carassius) on account of the presence 

 of two barbels on each side of the mouth, and be- 

 cause the molariform pharyngeal teeth are arranged 

 in three series on each side; the main row is com- 

 posed of three teeth, and in addition there are two 

 small anterior teeth placed one in front of the other, 

 whereas in the Crucian Carp and Gold-fish there is 

 a single series of four teeth on each side. 



In the Carp the dorsal fin is highest anteriorly, 

 its spine is fairly strong and distinctly serrated, 

 whilst the branched rays are seventeen to twenty-two 

 in number ; the caudal fin is deeply emarginate. 

 There are thirty-four to forty scales in the lateral 



