284 
THE CARP. 
formation, the Star-gazer has long attracted the attention of naturalists, and given the ana- 
tomical investigator much trouble in unravelling the intricate mechanism of its eyes. At a 
first glance, the fish appears to possess four distinct eyes, each of these organs being divided 
across the middle, and apparently separated into two distinct portions. In fact, an opaque 
band runs transversely across the cornea of the eye, and the iris, or colored portion, sends out 
. two processes which meet each other under the transverse band of the cornea, so that the fish 
appears to possess even a double pupil. Still, on closer investigation, the connection between 
the divisions of the pupil are apparent, and can readily be seen in the young fish. The lens is 
shaped something like a jargonelle pear, and is so arranged that its broad extremity is placed 
under the large segment of the cornea. 
The Star-gazer is a native of Surinam, and is one of the viviparous fish. Three species of 
this genus are now known to naturalists. 
Though not so brightly spotted as the trout, nor so desperately active when hooked, and 
very inferior in flesh, the Carp is yet in much favor with anglers, on account of its extreme 
PIR A Y A . —Serrosalmo piraya. 
cunning, which has earned for the fish the name of Fox of the waters. As the number of 
fish is so great, and our space so small, it will be needful to compress the descriptions as much 
as possible, and to omit everything that does not bear directly on the subject. 
The Carp is found both in rivers and lakes, and in some places, among which the palaces 
of France may he mentioned, will often grow to an enormous size, and become absurdly tame, 
crowding to the bank on the least encouragement, and poking their great snouts out of the 
water in anxious expectation of the desired food. It is most curious to watch these great 
creatures swimming lazily along, and to see how completely they have lost the inherent dread 
of man by the exercise of their reasoning powers, which tell them that the once-feared biped 
on the bank will do them no harm, but, in all probability, will be the means of indulging their 
appetite with favorite food. 
The Carp is one of the fish that retains its life for a lengthened period even w T hen removed 
from the water ; and if carefully packed in wet moss so as to allow a free circulation of air, 
will survive even for weeks. Anglers never seem sure of the Carp — taking plenty on one day 
