209 



GOLDEN CARP. 



C3^rinus Aiiratus. C. aureus splendidissimus, pinnis ruhris, 



Cauda sctpius trifido, pinnaque ani dupUci. 

 Brilliant golden Carp, with red fins, tail frequently trifid, and 



anal fin double. 



Cyprinus auratus. C, pinna ani gemina, caudce transversa bifarca: 



Lin. Syst. Nat. 

 Cyprinus colore rubro. Block, t. g4. 

 Gold-Fish. Penn. Brit, ZooL Edwards, t. 209. 



This most beautiful fish, which far surpasses in 

 the brilliancy of its appearance every other inhabit- 

 ant of the waters, is a native of the Southern parts 

 of China, and is particularly found in the province 

 of Kiang, where it exists in its natural state in a 

 large lake, situated near a mountain at a small 

 distance from the town of Tckangkou. From this 

 spot it has been dispersed into all parts of that ex- 

 tensive empire, and is justly considered as one of 

 the most elegant ornaments which can be intro- 

 duced into the gardens and houses of persons of the 

 highest distinction. The Chinese ladies in parti- 

 cular are said to spare no pains in cultivating with 

 the most assiduous attention so beautiful an animal, 

 which pleases by the perpetual gaiety of its appear- 

 ance, the liveliness of its motions, and the ease with 

 which it may be rendered susceptible of a kind of 

 attachment. Large glass and porcelain vessels of 

 the richest kind are prepared for its reception in 

 their apartments, and small ornamental ponds and 

 basons in their gardens. 



No fish is subject to so many variations, in its 

 V. V. p. I. 14 



