LEUCTSCUS PHOXINUS. 175 



The larg-cst scales are more than one-half the diameter of the eye. The 

 smallest scales are on the fore part of the hack and pectoral region. The 

 scales have a fan of more than ten rays. The colour and longitudinal band 

 are similar to those of the type //. v/nfieellii-'^, but the lateral band is less 

 distinct, and often scarcely visible. All fins are of a pale yellow colour. The 

 length is about four and a half inches. This variety lives in shallow water, 

 under stones. It spawns in May, June, and July, and is then described by 

 Filippi as covered with small tubei'cular growths on the head and scales. 

 The pharyngeal teeth are stronger than in L. luniicellKS, and often less den- 

 ticulated, usually there are four in the outer row instead of five. The verte- 

 brae are rather less numerous. This vai-iety is found south of the Alps. 

 L. mnticellm is distributed in an oblique band of country in Central Europe. 

 It is found in France, Switzerland, Wiirtemberg, Bavaria, some parts of Ger- 

 many and Austria, and especially in the tributaries of the Rhine, the Rhone, 

 and the Danube. 



Leuciscus phoxinns (Linn/eus). — The Minno^w. 



D. 10, A. 9—10, Y. D— 10, P. 10—17, C. 19. 



The Minnow, which is widely distributed throughout Europe, is one of the 

 l)est known injiabitants of the fresh waters of England and Scotland, and in 

 Ireland is met with in Dublin and Wicklow (Fig. 98). 



It has many local names, which vary with almost every country. In 

 France it is called le Vairon, in Sweden, Eliizor, in North Germany, Elrifze, 

 and in South Germany and Austria, PfrlUe, in Italy it is knowu as Fregarolo 

 or SangulncTold — the last name, like the English provincial name P'uil\ 

 obviously referring to its colour. 



The body is five to six times as long as high, and the height is equal to 

 the length of the head, but the proportions vary with age, since the head 

 becomes longer in old specimens. The thickness of the body is from two- 

 thirds to three-fourths of the height, giving it a sub-cylindrical appearance. 

 The eye is one-fourth of the length of the head, and the breadth of the 

 frontal region, between the eyes, is one and a half times the orbital diameter. 

 The average distance of the eye from the snout is equal to the diameter of the 

 eye. The mouth is small and terminal; its cleft reaches under the nares. 

 The nose is arched and thickened ; in fact, the whole profile from the nose to 

 the back of the head is conspicuously arched, while the back is comparatively 

 flat. The dorsal fin is opposite to the space between the ventrals and anal, and 

 in about the middle of the body. Its base is short and its greatest height is 

 equal to the length of the pectoral and anal fins. Its shortest ray is half the 



