MINNOWS. 



fl-c()loui'('d variety of the 



can so clearly delineate the coloration lA' the Minnow cnduiili. " In I'ntrland 



as V. Whicht's two tigures: a fenialc and a male in , .Minnow lias liccn fniind". 



tiic siiawninu-dress. The back is olive In'own or nearly i The ^linnow has many Swedish names: Ebitza 



hlackisii. pnrcr green between the dark transverse bands i ((icrni. FJiitzc), in llallaiid and Bohuslan Allinf/ or 



that mil down towards the sides. Tiu' middle of tiie Alli'i)iitt<t (Dan. ]\lhi(t or EUnittc) and Alkiild, in Dals- 



sides generally sh(jws a pattern of e(|nally dark shade, j land Alkiifra, in Ostei- (iotidand Alkutta, in Wester 



a row of blackish brown spots, partlv or completely | Gothland Hiindfiiiddd and (Hi, in Westerbotten (iliir. 



coalescing into a stripe, which rnns from the smmt, in l>alecar]ia (Jridil and I(/t//hif/ (LiNNii'',us), in Jeintland 



interrnpted by tiie eyes, to tiie lower part of the candal Jlliiidsill (Oi.sson), in Lapland Salfovfiodfi (I^iNN.Krs), 



tin, where it ends in an obliquely set spot, as a rule | among the islands of the llaltic Ucnin/torsk in the Oi- 



the most constant and persistent trace of this stripe, j strict of Stockholm (Sundevalf.) and Lortbitk in Soder- 



even in specimens jn-eserved in spirits. The ventral ; mankind (Ekstkom), and in (Gothland Laxhddd (Lind- 



side is liglit, milkv white or silveiy. Very often the j sthom). Aktedi also gives the names of Jlfiidil and 



colonr of the sides is dashed with gold, especially on j Skitspigg, Linn.eus that of liudd (Germ. litdt). This 



the gill-cii\(M- and aliove the dark striiie; and the vent- i multitude of names is alone sutKcient to prove the eom- 



ral side assumes a reddish tint, punctated more or less I mon occurrence of the Minnow throughout Sweden and 



densely with blackish brown dots, the last distribution I in the island-belts of the Baltic and the Gulf of Both- 



of colonr being most prominent on the forepart of the nia. The species is also common in Norway both to 



hod\' in the males. All the tins are transparent, shad- the extreme north (south to about (ji>° X. lat.) and the 



ing into yellow, gray, or green. In the spawning-dress extreme south (north to about 63° N. lat.), but not in 



all the coliiiirs are brighter, most so, as usual, in the ^ tlie intermediate districts (Collett, cf. the occurrence 



males: the sides become emerald green, tiie lielly red- of the Perch in Norway, see above, ]). 28, note d). Its 



dish, the golden lustre comes forth on the suboper- 

 culum, and on tlie upper part of the operculum, as far 

 as it is free fi-oni the side of the body and forms the 

 upper nnirgin of the gill-opening, there appears a lust- 



geographical range embraces the whole of Euroiie — 

 Avith the exception, as far as is known at present, of 

 the Iberian Peninsula — and Northern Asia, east to the 

 Amur. In Switzerland, according to Fatuj, it ascends 



rous, white spot, especially conspicuous in the males ■ the cold Alpine streams and lakes to a height of nearlA 



on the Iilack ground composed of the occiput, the pre- 

 operculum, a part of the operculum, and the remainder 

 of the branchiostegal membrane. In the males ready 

 to sjiawn this lustrous white also extends to the bases 

 of the paired tins and the inner anterior corner of the 

 anal tin. The corners of the mouth are carmine red. 

 The iris glitters with a lustre of silver and gold. In 

 light environments tlie tish has a lighter dress, and the 



2,500 metres above the level of the sea. In Norway, ac- 

 cording to CoLLETr, it lives high up in the birch region 

 of the fells, at an altitude of about 900 metres. 



The appearance'' and iiabits of the ^linnow have 

 been compared, not without reason, to those of Salmon- 

 fry in the stage termed parrs. Thej- are also often 

 found in company, the Minnow Ijeing generally an in- 

 habitant of clear streams and brooks with sandy or 



body 



somewhat transjjarent. The tish is also gravelly bottom. But the Minnow lives, as we have 



lighter by day than at night, has a richer dress when 

 well fed than when starved, and changes colour rapidly 

 enough under the influence of the passions. "The 

 coloration varies considerabh' in different individuals,' 

 writes Ek.sthom; 'it also changes speedily on the death 

 of the tish. To observe the numerous and bright hues 



mentioned, not only in running fresh water and in 

 lakes, but also in the sea, where it often appears in 

 shoals oft' the piers among tlie island-belt. Ekstkom 

 describes its habits in these latter haunts as follows: 

 "it lives off rocky proiiKinturies and stony shores in 

 deep water, especially where there is a current, associ- 



with which this fish is adorned, it should be seen in 1 ates exclusively with its own kin. and seems to avoid 

 the water or at the moment of its capture. Though places frequented b}' other sjiecies. Where it occurs, 

 kept alive in a vessel of water, it changes colour soon it is always found in large numbers. During the greatir 



" MA.NLi'.y, see Day, 1. e. 



'' '"Facies Tiuttie feu Salinonis". LiN., Fn. Stmc. 



