GILL] THE FAMILY OF CYPRINIDS 203 
of only two known species at most, of temperate Asiatic origin. It 
is characterized by an oblong compressed body, large scales, two 
pairs of barbels, long dorsal with an osseous (third) ray in front, 
short anal, and pharyngeal teeth which are mostly molariform and 
in three rows (3|/1|1—1|1|3). The principal species is the well 
known common carp (Cyprinus carpio); a doubtful second is a 
peculiar Chinese species with larger scales (Cyprinus fossicola). 
The common carp (Cyprinus carpio), in its most natural con- 
dition, has its body covered with scales of moderate size, thirty-five 
to forty along lateral line and in five or six longitudinal rows 
between the line and fore part of back. In artificial condition sports 
from this standard have been derived and two varieties largely cul- 
tivated. One is the mirror carp, in which the body has become for 
the most part naked, but very much enlarged scales developed in 
three rows, along the lateral line on the tail, on the back below the 
dorsal fin, and below above the anal; the other is the leather carp, 
in which the scales are wholly or almost entirely lost. 
The carp’s behavior is well worthy of attention. In water which 
it has not been able to befoul too much, it may be seen listlessly 
swimming about with the dorsal folded backwards, the anal slightly 
less so, the caudal lazily moved from side to side, the pectorals 
horizontal or slightly oblique, and the ventrals folded on the abdo- 
men. Tired even of this, it retires down to the bottom and there 
rests largely on its ventrals, now horizontally outspread and with 
the surface touching the ground. It never ceases its inspirations 
which occur mostly from twenty to forty times a minute, rarely 
more or less. The gulping at the mouth is quickly succeeded by 
the uplift of the gill-cover; sometimes they appear to be almost 
synchronous with each other. It may frequently ascend to the sur- 
face to take in a breath of free air. Indeed, according to some 
authors (Smitt for example), “ during the warm season” the carp 
“soon dies of suffocation if prevented from coming to the surface 
to breathe.” The commotion which it causes in the water by such 
excursions has given rise to a curious superstition in Ireland. 
Frank Buckland was told that “fairies could be seen dancing on 
bright moonlight nights in a certain lake” of that favored land of 
the fairies, and he went to enjoy the sight. “ The water was very 
still but showed rings innumerable. These,’ he found, “ were 
caused by large carp coming to the surface and smacking their lips 
as they took in great gulps of air.” 
The carp is ubiquitous and will live in almost any water, but 
experienced carp-culturists (e. g., R. Hessel) insist that it is “ par- 
