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TlIK FRESH- WATEi; FISHES OF EURorE. 



Aspius rapax (Agassiz). 



This lisli is round only in llu' eastern part of Europe; it is known in South 

 Russia as Belezna, in Germany as the Sc/iied, ia Bohemia as tlie Bolcn, in 

 Austria as the Rapfcn, while in Sweden it is the Asp. It is characterised by 

 the pointed snout, long head, small eyes, and small scales (Fig, 1£8), 



The body is deepest ov^er the ventral fin, and broadest at the operculum, 

 where the width is one-half the height. The eye is nearly twice its diameter 

 from the extremity of the snout, and is one-sixth or one-seventh of the length 

 of the head. I'he nares are near to the e\('. The ang'le of the mouth reaches 



Fii;-. 128. — .\.si>ir.-- u.vi'.w (A(i.\!s.siz) 



under the anterior part of the orbit. The extremity of the lower jaw is 

 thickened in the middle, and this knob is received in a corresponding excava- 

 tion in the u})per jaw. 



The contour of the back is a llattened bow. 



The dorsal tin commences behind the middle of the body; it is much 

 higher than long; its base is shorter than the head. The fin is truncate 

 behind ; its longest ray is two and a half times the length of the shortest 

 ray. The anal tin is as high as long, and the pro2)ortions of its rays are 

 like those of the dorsal. Its terminal edge is somewhat concave. The ventral 

 lins arc in front of the dorsal, and extend back to the vent, though they arc 

 not long. The pectorals are longer, but they do not reach back to the 

 vcntrals. The candid lin is dee}>ly forked, has ecjual lobes, with the terminal 

 rays as long as the head. 



The scales are soft and verv delicate, with scarcelv visible coricentric ribs. 



