BIIIANG TILL K. SV. VET.-AKAD. HANDL. BAND 26. AFD. IV. NIO 8. 9 



is provided with a crest on the forehead, but its snout is 

 less compressed and less high than in rostcllatus. The num- 

 ber of dorsal and lateral plates seems to be about the same 

 in both forms, as is also the position of the dorsal fin. For 

 lack of material I do not dåre to express any opinion about 

 the relation between the Caspian form and those of the Medi- 

 terranean. 



The only adult specimen is a male carrying ova as early 

 as in April. 



Silurus ^lanis Lin. 



The »som» is a very common fish in the Caspian region 

 as well in the sea as in fresh water. It was not used in 

 former days, but now the meat is salted and sold at a com- 

 paratively high price. The swimbladder is dried and used 

 for isingglass. A result of this is that extremely large spe- 

 ciraens are more scarce now than before. The greatest weight 

 of this fish I heard spöken of in Transcaucasia was 8 Russian 

 pud (about 131 kilo). All specimens I opened were infested 

 with Ichthyotwnia. 



Cyprinus carpio Lin. 



The »sasan» is abundant as well in the sea as in fresh 

 water. Outside the mouth of Kura river in Transcaucasia 

 I found almost every specimen infested especially on the head 

 by large numbers of a Caligus which seems to be a new spe- 

 cies and will be described separately. It makes a stränge 

 impression to see such a fish as this which is regarded as a 

 typical treshwaterfish caught at the open sea coast, at Pet- 

 rovsk and at Baku, where the water must be rather salt. 



• Cyprinus carassius Lin. 



The fishes of this species which I had the opportunity 

 to observe in the Volga delta had about the same appearance 

 as Swedish specimens although duller in colour which is pro- 

 bably caused by the muddy water. The measurements of a 

 specimen 263 mm. in length, which was brought home from 

 Volga, show however that it is of stouter built than the 

 northern form. Its greatest height is 45, i 'A of the total 

 length, but in Swedish specimens the same percentage, ac- 



