C Y P R 
much fatter, but of a far fuperior flavour to thofe fed in 
the pond. They may alfo be carried thirty leagues 
wrapped up in l'novv, putting a bit of bread dipped in 
brandy into their mouths. When well fed, they grow 
to fitch a vaft fize, that they have become a valuable 
article of commerce. The merchants purchafe them 
from the lakes and rivers belonging to the Polifli no- 
bleffe, and tranfport them in well-boats to Sweden and 
RuiTia. In imitation of them, fome of the Englilh gen¬ 
try have begun to turn their filh-ponds to account, by 
regularly felling their carp. 
The carp is, perhaps, the mod remarkable among the 
fpinous fillies for longevity. Ledel fays there are ponds 
in Lufatia where carp are to be feen two hundred years 
old; Buffon declares he has feen in the folle furround¬ 
ing the fort of Pont-Chartrain, carps certainly more than 
150 years of age; and in the royal garden of Charlotten- 
burgh there are fome of a prodigious fize and age, whofe 
heads are covered with mofs or weeds. If fillies are long- 
lived, it is accounted for from their being continually in 
in a moift element, where their fibres may long maintain 
their flexibility. Befides, in the water, they enjoy an uni¬ 
form temperature, and are lefs fubjedf than other ani¬ 
mals to diforders from the change of feafons. The uni¬ 
formity of their food alfo contributes greatly to the fame 
end. 
Their fize in fome countries is faid to correfpond to 
this extraordinary longevity; leveral being reported to 
be taken in the Lacus Larais of 20olbs. weight, and in 
the Dneifter five feet long. The following accounts of 
their fize feem to be better authenticated. Bloch re¬ 
ceived a carp from the eftute of count Schulenborg in 
Saxony, which weighed 2zlbs. and it was not reckoned 
larger than thofe ulually taken in that place. Near An- 
gerbourg, in Pruflia, they are found weighing 4olbs. At 
Dertz in the New Marches on the frontiers of Pomera¬ 
nia, one was taken which weighed 38lbs. and it was pre- 
fented to the king, who was then at Stettin, as a rarity. 
In 1753, one was taken in the lake of Lagau, in the cir¬ 
cle of Sternberg, as large a child ; (but Richter, who 
gives the account, p. 803. does not fay a child of what 
age.) In 1711, one was caught at Bilchofshaufe, near 
Frankfort on the Oder, which was two- ells and a half 
long, and one wide ; it weighed 761bs. and the fcales 
were as large as a (hilling. In the lake of Golitz, near, 
the bailliwic of Lenin, they are often found weighing 
upwards of 3olbs. Thofe taken in the Dneifter are la 
large, that knife-handles are made of their bones. In 
Hungary there are carps four feet long, and fo fat that 
their paunch refembles a bacon-hog. With the ova of 
this filli caviar is made, which is fold to the Jews at 
Conftantinaple. This filh feeds, like the reft of the fpe- 
cies, on weeds,..(lime, worms, and aquatic infefts ; above 
all they are fond of iheep’s-dung, and thrive greatly in 
thofe ponds where the rains walk down the dung of cat¬ 
tle to them. 
The fifties' of this fpecies being in fome meafure do- 
mefticated, their manners and economy have been more 
narrowly examined than .molt of the other tenants of the 
water; and the afcertaining their fecundity has been the 
refult of thefe obfervations. The carp is prodigioufiy 
prolific; its belly being almoft at all feafons diltended 
with a roe, which fometimes increafes, before parturL 
tion, to the full fize of the fifti who carries itand when 
weighed againft it, has often been known to preponde¬ 
rate. Upwards of fix hundred thoufand ova have been 
numbered in one roe ; and, if we may credit Ariftotle, 
this immenfe offspring-is produced five or fix times every 
year. Such is the kind attention bellowed by nature in 
preferving this ufefyl clafs of animals, for the fupport 
oi other portions of. her innumerable family ! 
The carp, like mpft other fpecies, frequent the (hallow 
water at the fealon of (pawning ; when a dozen of males 
are feen purfuing one female as (lie emits her ova; and 
upon, thefe they eje6t their fmelts; by which operation 
Vol, V. No. 2.93, 
I N U S'. 5'2f) 
naturalifts fuppofe that impregnation is effefted. I11 this 
uncertain procefs, however, many of her ova muft be 
diflipated in the water, without coming into contact with 
the fperm of the male ; and hence that fertility is abridg¬ 
ed, which would otherwife loon overftock the whole 
waters upon the globe. They fpawn in May or June. 
If in the courfe of their progrefs to the (hallow waters in 
fpawning-time, they meet any lock or grating in their 
way, they will jump over it, though five or fix feet high ; 
but the fmaller ones are often left behind. After fpawn- 
ing, they return in the fame manner to the rivers and 
deep waters. Thefe leaps which the carps take are like 
thofe of the falmon ;. they are often oblerved to leap in 
the ponds for their amufenient: they rife to the furface. 
of the water, turn on their fide, and bend the head and 
tail at the fame inftant fo as to defcribe a perfect circle, 
then agitate the water brilkly, and make a leap about 
five or fix feet high, and alight about as many feet for¬ 
ward. When the carps quit the Rhine to gain the lakes, 
the inhabitants of thofe places regard it as the fign of 
an approaching inundation ; and when they return to the 
ftill waters as early as the month of May, they are af- 
fured that the Rhine will foon retire within its banks. 
A warm fpring caufes the carp to fpawn early, for then 
the fnow melts, and the Rhine fwells fooner than ordi¬ 
nary. Then the carp finds plenty of food, the ova un¬ 
fold themfelves fafter, and incline the fifli to leek earlier 
thofe places where plenty of frelli herbage enables them 
to depofit their fpawn, and fo get rid of that difagree- 
able fenfation. 
When the young carp have attained the length of eight 
or ten inches, they are taken out of the (hallow water, 
and fold to Itock other ponds; and by this mode, when 
well fed, they become very large.and well-tafted. 
Among all doniefticated animals, the purity of their 
manners is vitiated ; and' mixed races are produced by 
an unnatural connection between different fpecies : this 
is exemplified by the horfe and the afs, by the different 
fpecies of dogs,, and by many of our domeftic poultry ; 
the carp and tench, in their confinement in ponds, are 
alfo laid, to mingle their fpawn, and to tranfmit an am-i 
biguous race.to pofterity. In fimilar circumftances, the. 
carp and beam are reported to “ overftep the modefty of 
nature,” and to violate thofe laws which (lie has fo gene¬ 
rally eftablilhed between kindred tribes. 
The flefh of this fpecies is rather infipid and foft, but 
varies greatly, according to the place where the filh is 
reared, and the nourifhment with which it is fed. Thofe 
in llagnated water are feldom found fo well flavoured, as 
they that are taken from a pure and rapid dream. 
The carp is extremely fhy in taking a bait, and, for. 
this reafon, the more common method of taking it in. 
rivers is with the net. Its cunning is dilplayed by the 
various methods it praCtil'es to elude this inftrument of 
deftruction : fometimes it leaps over the net; at others, 
immerles itfelf fo deeply in the mud, that the net is drawn 
over it. At the fpawning leafon, all this artifice leems 
to forfake 1 the animal, and it becomes then fo (Implc, 
that it fuffers itfelf to be tickled, handled, and caught, 
by any perfcn that will attempt it. 
The difference in the internal conformation between 
this fpecies and others of the genus is, that each jaw has 
five broad teeth, which form an obtufe angle in the mid¬ 
dle. The.inteftinal canal has five finuofities ; the verte¬ 
brae are thirty-feven, the ribs fixteen on each fide ; the 
gall-bladder is large, and the gall itfelf is a very deep 
green, very bitter, and furnilhes painters with a green 
colour. If in preparing tire filh for cooking, the gall¬ 
bladder fliouid break, the bitiernels may be walked out 
of the body with ftrong vinegar. 
The carp is much efteemed among many of the eaftern 
nations. The great mogul, before he takes the field, or. 
undertakes any affair of importance, lays his fingers on a 
large carp, and utters a prayer. According to Carver, , 
the carps of the Miftiflippi are as large as thofe of Eng. 
6 T- land 3,: 
