CARP-FISHES. 
719 
retention in a cartilaginous form of a row of four basal 
bones" — a point which reminds us of more primitive 
types (the Ganoids) — the innermost of which even pos- 
sesses the same form as in Amia and Lepidosteus. Be- 
hind, from the symphysis, each pelvic bone projects on 
the inner side of the insertion of the ventral tin in a 
process, directed straight back or curving outward to 
the side and serving as a point of attachment for a 
muscle coming from the base of the anal fin. The three 
branchiostegal rays are as a rule strong, of a broad, 
ensiform shape; and the urohyoid bone, a triangular, 
horizontal disk with the point turned forward and 'with 
a strong and high osseous ridge, highest behind, on the 
upper surface, reminds us most strongly of the cor- 
responding bone in the Siluroids. 
The systematic arrangement of the Cyprinoids in- 
volves many difficulties, partly on account of the great 
wealth of forms, partly in consequence of the more than 
usually strong proclivity of these fishes for cross-breed- 
ing between different species, even between species be- 
longing to genera recognised as distinct. The Cyprinoids 
have been named after the island of Cyprus, the ancient 
sanctuary of Venus 6 , and this name has arisen from 
observations of the fecundity and vivacity of these fishes 
when spawning. They crowd together in wild tumult 
to spawn and mingle with each other, seeking the same 
spawning-places and often having the same spawning- 
seasons. Cross-breeds between the Carp and the Crucian 
Carp have long been known. Schonevelde (1624) speaks 
of such hybrids in the Elbe c , Marsigli (1726) tells us 
from the Danube that the fishermen of this river, who 
called these forms Sittich karp f en, explained them as 
hybrids'* *, and according to Borner (1781) the fishermen 
of Silesia had made the same observation", namely that 
these forms are produced by cross-breeding between the 
Carp and the Crucian Carp, when Crucian Carp are 
incautiously allowed to enter the culture-ponds for Carp, 
and that for this reason the breeders of Carp carefully 
avoided buying fry from such ponds as were suspected 
also to contain Crucian Carp. These observations were 
regarded, however, by zoologists in general merely as 
surmises — ichthyologists described these hybrids as a 
distinct species, and Hecket/ in 1853 made them the 
type of a distinct genus — until DybowskC in 1862 and 
Sieboli/ in 1863 gave the question a different turn. 
Siebold also showed' that there was good reason to 
regard the Letter of German writers (Bloch’s Cyprintis 
Buggenliagii) — a fish which was said to lead the way 
for the shoals of Bream, and whose capture was there- 
fore supposed to be a good omen of an abundant take 
— as a hybrid of two kinds between the Bream genus, 
Abramis ( brama and blicca ), on the one hand and the 
Roach and Rudd genera, Leuciscus and Scardinius, on 
the other; and also to interpret the Hacliette ( Alburnus 
dolabratus ) of French authors as a hybrid ' between the 
Chub ( Leuciscus ceplialus ) and the Bleak ( Alburnus Juci- 
dus). Jack el 6 has added several forms from Bavaria 
to this list of hybrids, one of which, that between the 
Roach and the Rudd, may possess a special interest for 
our fauna. As yet, however, to the best of our know- 
ledge, only the first of these hybrids, that between flic 
Carp and the Crucian Carp, has been proved by breeding 
experiments really to be of a hybrid nature. A great 
held of investigation is still open here to the piscicul- 
turist, with whom it lies to solve these questions; but 
we know enough already to prevent any surprise at 
the uncertainty in the systematic arrangement of the 
Cyprinoids. 
The Scandinavian fauna, it is true, contains only a 
few of the variations that have ranked as types for the 
subfamilies and genera hitherto established within the 
Cyprinoid family. Still, we possess a sufficient number 
to enable us to see among them the most important 
extremes in the differentiation of the family. From the 
most harmonious Roach type the form-series within the 
Scandinavian fauna proceed in two directions, on the 
a Davidoff calls these bones radii. 
b Kurcoig was also a name of Venus. 
c Ichthyol. Slesv. Hols., p. 34: “medii Carasi ob id dicti, halb Harass vel Karpffkarass, quod e Caraso et Carpa compositi videantur.” 
d “Similitudine inter Cyprinum et Carassium mediat, narn ex ovis Cyprini, quantum Piscatores asserunt, et semine, ved lacte Carassi, 
aut e contra progeueratur,” Danubius Pannonico-mysicus, tom. VI, p. 61. 
e Zoologies Silesiacce Prodromus, p. 205. 
f Verh. zool. bot. Ver. Wien, Bd. II, p. 29. 
g Vers. Monogr . Cypriniden Livlands, p. 55. 
h Siisstvasserf. Mitteleur., p. 94. 
* L. c., pp. 145 — 152. 
J Sieb., 1. c., p. 167. 
k Abb. zool. mineral. Ver. Regensb. 1864 and 1865; Zool. Garten 1866; Fische Bayerns. 
Scandinavian Fishes. 
91 
