MALACOPTERYGII ABDOMINALES. 199 



sphenoid. These fishes have but one dorsal, and their body is co- 

 vered with scales which most commonly are very large; they live in 

 fresh water, and are perhaps the least carnivorous of the whole 

 class, feeding chiefly on seeds, grass, and even ooze. The stomach 

 is continuous with a short intestine which has no caecum, and their 

 natatory bladder is divided into two by a strangulation. 

 We divide them into subgenera as follows: 



Cyprinus, Cuv. 



Carps, properly so called, have a long dorsal, in which, as well 

 as in the anal, the second ray is formed by a spine more or less 

 stout. 



Some of them have cirri at the angles of the upper jaw. Such is 

 Cyp. carpio, L., Bl. 16. (The Common Carp.) Olive-green; 

 yellowish beneath; dorsal and anal spines strong and dentatedj 

 cirri, short; pharyngeal teeth flat, with a striated crown. Ori- 

 ginally from central Europe, it now inhabits the ponds of 

 France, where it attains a length of four feet. It is easily bred 

 in fish-ponds and is generally esteemed. (1) 



Monstrous individuals of this species are sometimes taken 

 with a very gibbous front and short snout. 



A race with large scales is bred, in certain individuals of 

 which the skin is naked in spots, or even entirely: it is called 

 the Reine des Carpes, Carpe a miroir, Carpe a cuir, Sec, — Cy- 

 prinus rex cyprinorum, Bl., 17. 

 In others the cirri are deficient. Such, in Europe, are, 



Cyp. carassius, L., Bl., XI. The body elevated; lateral line 

 straight; head small; caudal truncated. Common in the north 

 of Europe. 



Cyp. gibelio, Gm., Bl., 12. Thebody somewhat less elevated; 

 lateral line arcuated below; caudal crescent-shaped. Common 

 in the environs of Paris. The spines of these two species are 

 weak, and it is with difficulty that any dentations are to be per- 

 ceived in them. 

 Such also is the species which is so highly valued in France, 



(1) The Cyprini, Anne-Caroline, Lacep., V, xviii, 1, rouge-brun, Id. lb., XVI, 

 1, mordor^, Ih., 2, vert-violet, lb., 3, known merely from Cliinese paintings, closely 

 approach the Carp. The Chinese, who take much delight in breeding these 

 fishes, obtain many varieties, all very different, the figures of which are seen in 

 their drawings: it would not be safe, however, to consider them as species, upon 

 these documents only. 



