868 FISHES — CIPEINID^. 



Habitat, Maine to Alabama and Texas, north to Minnesota. Every where abundant 

 el^oept in the South Atlantic States, where it is superseded by the southern N. ameri- 

 eanus (L ). 



Diagnosis. — This species bears little resemblance to our other Ohio 

 Cyprinidm. In general, it may be known by the long anal fin, and by the 

 carinated belly, over the middle line of which (behind the ventral fins) 

 the scales do not pass. 



Habits. — This large species is especially characteristic of sluggish 

 waters. In every lake, pond, or bayou in Ohio it is extremely abundant ; 

 in weedy bayous most of all. The yellow pond lily is its favorite shel- 

 ter. Shallow ponds, left in the spring by the overflowing of some stream, 

 will often be found full of them, their companions in distress in such 

 cases being often Amiurus xnnthocephalvs and natalis, Vrribra limi, Esox 

 salmoneua, and Erimyzon sucetta. This fish in form and coloration some- 

 what resembles a Shad, and it has been frequently taken for such by 

 careless observers. Rafinesque himself placed it among the Glupeidse, 

 which fact accounts for the general neglect of his name, Noiemigonus. 



Genus CARAS8IU8. Nilsson. 



Caraasius, Nilsson, Prodromos. 



Type, Cyprinua oaraesiua, L ; Garaamia vulgaris, N.ilss. 



Etymology, from Karaea or Karauaeh, the vernacular name of the European Crucian Carp. 



Body oblong, compressed and elevated ; month terminal, without barbels ; teeth 4-4, 

 molar not compressed ; scales large; lateral line continuous; dorsal fin very long, with 

 a stout spine, which is serrated behind ; anal short, with a similar spine ; large species, 

 of the fresh waters of Europe and A^a, often domesticated. One species, the familiar 

 Gold-fish, is here domesticated, and has become natnralized in some streams. 



Carassius aubatus (Linnaeus) Bleeker. 



Oold-Fisli. 



This fish, native of the fresh waters of China, and domesticated in all parts of the 

 world as an aqaaiium fish, is too well known to need description. There are twenty 

 species in the fresh waters of Ohio, more beautifully colored than this ooaise and 

 gaudy fish, and more desirable for aqaariam pucpoics in every respect, except that of 

 tenacity of life. 



Gbnus CYPRINUS. Linnseas. 



Cyprinua, LiNNiEUS, Systema Naturae, i, 525. 

 Type, Cyprinua carpio, L. 

 Etymology, kuprinoa, Carp. 



Body short and deep, resembling that of a Bafi'alo-fish ; head heavy; month anterior, 

 rather narrow, with four long barbels ; dorsal fin long, with a strong, serrated spine ; 

 anal short ; scales large, reduced in number, or wanting in some of the domesticated 

 varieties ; teeth molar-like, 1, 1, 3'3, 1, 1. Europe and Asia, one species ; introduced 

 into America. 



