Priel Ave OR ICY PRINIDS AND: THE CARP AS 
Listy PE 
By THEODORE GILL 
By far the largest element of the fish fauna of the fresh waters 
of the northern hemisphere is the family of Cyprinids represented 
by the common carp, goldfish, dace, chub, bream, and their numer- 
ous relations. These have attracted considerable attention in Eu- 
rope, but in America they have been comparatively neglected, so 
that but little is known of their habits. Nevertheless they may 
repay attention, for very interesting peculiarities are manifested by 
some of the species, especially during the breeding season, and 
some unexpected results may be obtained by observation of others. 
One of the main reasons for inattention to the species is the want 
of knowledge of how and what to look for and the scattered nature 
of the data already published relating to the economy of the species 
of the family. To supply to some degree at least this deficiency the 
following notes, gathered from many sources, are offered. 
The popular names applied to the Cyprinids are numerous and in 
Europe most of the species are well distinguished and provided with 
distinctive names. The early English immigrants to America 
brought over a number of such names and applied them in a reckless. 
manner to new species they found in the new land. None of the 
American species were much like any of the English ones and 
different persons were differently impressed by their appearance 
and consequently applied names expressing such differing impres- 
sions. The result is that on the one hand the same American 
species may be variously known as dace, roach, chub, or bream, and 
on the other hand each of those names may be applied to very dif- 
ferent species. The old names are of much philological and _his- 
torical interest and therefore the true owners of the names current 
in America are illustrated and the history of such names briefly 
indicated. 
RELATIONS OF THE CyPRINIDS 
The family of Cyprinids is one of four now generally recognized, 
either as independent families or subfamilies, belonging to a group 
(superfamily of Cyprinoideans or suborder of Eventognaths) which 
is itself a major subdivision of the order of Plectospondyles. 
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