TK£ CARf. iti 



Section XIII. 



Genus LVIL— T'^^ Carp, 



jLuINNJEUs makes this genus confift of no lefs than 

 thirty-one dilFerent fpecies ; analogous indeed in their 

 external characters, but differing conliderably in their 

 habits and economy. They are all of an oblong and 

 oval fhape ; the body laterally compreffed, and covered 

 with large invbricated and deciduous fcales. The mouth 

 is fmall, and deftitute of teeth ; hence they have been 

 denominated leather mouthed fifhes. They are all di- 

 ftinguifhed by three branchioftegous rays, and one dorfal 

 fin riling from the middle of lae back, which is convex, 

 and fomewhat carinated. 



The noiirils are covered with valves, by which they 

 are alternately opened and fliut ; and the greater part of 

 the genus have cirri, or beards, round the mouth. Some 

 of thefe lifli were brought to England from the fouth of 

 Europe, and are now naturalifed in our frefh-watcr 

 ponds. 



