438 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



EDITOBIAL GLEANINGS. 



The following interesting correspondence is taken from a recent 

 issue of the ' Fishing Gazette ' : — 



Names of Carp. — Dear Sir, — Having noticed in the ' Fishing 

 Gazette ' on several occasions the mention of the Spiegel Carp, 

 Leather Carp, Mirror Carp, and King Carp, I should feel greatly 

 obliged if the chief differences could be explained. I have heard 

 several arguments, but have not been clear in my imagination. — 

 Yours truly, Perplexed. 



[The Carp was introduced into Europe from Asia many hundreds 

 of years ago. It has been cultivated and crossed, and now there are 

 different varieties, all probably the descendants of the true Carp, 

 which is covered with large scales. On the Continent, especially in 

 Germany and Austria, a very favourite cultivated variety of the Carp 

 is one with comparatively few large and almost isolated scales, which 

 are often iridescent and look like little mirrors. The German for 

 mirror is "Spiegel," and "Der Spiegel Karpfen" is the same as "the 

 Mirror Carp"; in French, " Carpe a Miroir" (Cyprinus specularis). 

 "When the Carp has been cultivated until it has lost nearly all its 

 scales, and its skin has the appearance and feel of brown leather, the 

 Germans call it " Leder Karpfen " (Leather Carp), and the French 

 "Carpe a cuir" [Cyprinus nudus). King Carp, or Queen Carp, is 

 merely a title of honour given to the Leather or Mirror Carp, which 

 fish have been produced from the common Carp by a process of 

 selection and breeding. If left to themselves, after some generations 

 these so-called improved fish gradually revert to their original form 

 and become more or less covered with scales. Just as racehorses 

 and great Clydesdales have been produced from the common Horse, 

 also special breeds of cattle, Dogs, &c, in the same way fish, by 

 selection and breeding for points, can be made to appear quite 

 different from their common ancestor. — Ed. — (R B. Marston.)] 



Speed of Dogs. — Comparatively few people (says ' Forest and 

 Stream ') realize of what remarkable speed Dogs are capable. Some 

 remarkable statistics in regard to this have been gathered by 

 M. Dusolier, a French scientist. After pointing out the marvellous 

 endurance shown by little Fox-terriers, who follow their masters 

 patiently for hours while the latter are riding on bicycles or in 



