. Birds of other lands, reptiles, fishes, jointed animals and lower forms;. Zoology; Birds; Reptiles; Fishes. 254 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD In the winter carp either bury themselves in the mud, or he among the water-weeds or roots of trees at the bottom. They are vegetarians for the most part, with no teeth in their mouths, but strong, powerful grinding-teeth in their throats; they are believed to regurgitate their food and chew it, somewhat as a cow chews the cud. With regard to the weight which this fish attains, one of 19 lbs. was taken at Sheffield Park in 1882. This was exceptionall
. Birds of other lands, reptiles, fishes, jointed animals and lower forms;. Zoology; Birds; Reptiles; Fishes. 254 THE LIVING ANIMALS OF THE WORLD In the winter carp either bury themselves in the mud, or he among the water-weeds or roots of trees at the bottom. They are vegetarians for the most part, with no teeth in their mouths, but strong, powerful grinding-teeth in their throats; they are believed to regurgitate their food and chew it, somewhat as a cow chews the cud. With regard to the weight which this fish attains, one of 19 lbs. was taken at Sheffield Park in 1882. This was exceptionally large; but one still larger, weighing 21 lbs. 10 ozs., was caught at Bayham Abbey, near Lamberhurst, in 1870; while one of 22 lbs. was exhibited many years ago to the Zoological Societ)^ In the German lakes these fish reach a weight of 40 lbs., or even more. Carp will, however, occasionally eat small fish, and have even been caught with a salmon-fly. CHAPTER XII PIKES, ARAPAIMAS, BEAKED SALMON, AND SCOPELIDS BY W. P. PVCRAFT, , THE Pikes are strictly fresh-water fishes, which are extremeh' voracious, and grow to a large size. They are met with in most of the fresh-waters of Europe, Asia, and America; yet they must be regarded rather as a Western than an Eastern type, since all the known species occur in America, whilst only one—the COMMON PiKE—is known outside that country. fishes capture their prey by stealth—practised, however, not so much by concealment as b}' l3'ing suspended in the water, perfectly motionless save for the movement of the gills, which is barel}' perceptible. When the victim comes within reach, it is seized by a sudden rush. The form of the body is admirably adapted to this manner of feeding, resembling rather a submerged log than a fish. It is, furthermore, on account of this shape that the name Pike has been bestowed, since it recalls the "pike" borne by the soldiers of bygone days. When on the feed, nothing comes amis
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