164 AMERICAN FISHES. 



ABDOMINAL 

 MALACOPTEETGII. CYPRINIDjE. 



t 



THE COMMON CARP. 



Cyprinus Carpio; Linnaeus, Cuvier. 



Of this family, Cyprinidce, the principal characteristics are a mouth 

 slightly cleft ; weak, and generally toothless jaws ; pharyngeal bones 

 strongly dentated ; one dorsal fin ; branchial rays few in number ; to 

 which may be added large fleshy lips, and bodies covered with large 

 scales. 



It comprises eighty or ninety well-known American species, not one 

 of which is worthy of notice, as either a fish of sport or a dainty. 

 There are in America no Carps proper, indigenous to the country — no 

 Barbels — no Cobitis, or loaches. Leucisci, analogous to, though by 

 no means — as stated by Dr. J. V. C. Smith, of Massachusetts — iden- 

 tical with the Chub, Roach, Dace, and Bleak of Europe, are found in 

 abundance under the above names, but still more commonly as Shiners. 

 The genus Abramis, Bream, has again several representatives in the 

 waters of North America, but none, either of this or the last sub- 

 genus, can attain to dimensions which lead the angler to trouble him- 

 self about them, unless it be as bait for other fish, as Pike and Pearch, 

 for which purpose several of these fish are better adapted than those 

 of any other family, unless it be the young fry of the Salmcmida, 

 while in their Parr form. 



