OR, THE HOME-CULTURE OF FRESH-WATER PLANTS. 
we refer to the report recently forwarded by Sir 
John Bowring to the Registrar-General, from which 
we learn that the portion of the Chinese people who 
obtain a livelihood by pursuits connected with the 
fisheries is larger than the whole population of 
Great Britain and Ireland, namely, above forty 
millions, which Sir John estimates at about one-tenth 
of the present population of China. But whether 
the beautiful kinds of the Gold Carp about to be 
described be mere varieties or not, many of the fish 
are so remarkably distinct in form as well as colour 
as to be quite as desirable, in an ornamental point 
of view, as scientifically distinct species. 
The original drawings were made by a native 
artist, under the superintendence of M. de Sauvigny, 
and most carefully engraved by M. P. N. Martinet, 
engineer and engraver of the Cabinet du Hoi . Ac¬ 
cording to this work, the Chinese reckon seven dis¬ 
tinct species, each with its sub-varieties, of which 
M. de Sauvigny gives fifty-eight examples; from 
these I have selected the following :— 
Of the Chinese species, Kin-yu , the variety 
called the “ Mottled Beauty,” is very remarkable. 
Beneath, it is simply silver toned, but on the back and 
sides mottled with blue, yellow, black, and rose 
colour, the rose colour deepening to pure crimson at 
87 
