THE MINNOW. 2iji) 



dark line extending from the nape to the dorsal fin, from thence to 

 the tall ; dorsal and caudal fins light brown ; ventrals and anal fin, 

 pale yellow ; sides marked by a broad olive band extending from the 

 eye to the base of the tail. In those which frequent rapid and shal- 

 low streams the back is of a deep olive ; sides of a lighter shade, 

 beautifully mottled with black, yellow, green, and white ; belly 

 white, tinged with red; under part of the tliroat black; base of the 

 pectorals, ventrals and anal fin, deep crimson ; head dark olive, 

 marked with a number of white elevated portions of the cuticle ; the 

 whole fish is liable to much variation in colour, depending on the 

 period of the season and the places in, which it inhabits. First ray of 

 the dorsal fin commencing exactly half-way between the point of the 

 snout and the tip of the long caudal rays ; the first ray short, not half 

 as long as the second; the third the longest in the fin; the sixth as 

 long as the base of the fin, the last about the length of the first ; the 

 first and second rays simple, the rest branched. Caudal fin deeply 

 forked, the middle ray half the length of the longest raj' ; a black spot 

 at the base of the tail. Anal fin commencing in a vertical line under 

 the last ray but one of the dorsal fin, and answering in every other 

 respect to that of the dorsal. Ventrals arising a little in advance of 

 the dorsal, and extending to the vent ; pectorals as long as from the 

 tip of the nose to the posterior margin of the preoperculum ; the first 

 ray simple, the remainder branched, the second longest in the fin. 

 Eyes moderate, placed nearer the point of the snout than to the pos- 

 terior margin of the operculum ; mouth small ; jaws of equal length. 

 Lateral line scarcely perceptible, commencing over the operculum, 

 and taking a descending course below the middle to the base of the 

 tail; scales small, none on the head or cheeks. Number of fin 

 rays — 



D. 9; P. 16; V. 8; A. 9; C. 19. 



In the north of Scotland the Minnow does not seem to 

 exist, as not a single specimen was observed by a party of 

 Ichthyologists \yho lately visited the different lakes and 

 rivers in the county of Sutherland. It is however found 

 in some of the tributaries nf the Dee, appearing more 

 plentiful as we advance south. It inhabits all the rivers 

 entering the Firth of Forth, but in the Teith, about fifteen 

 miles above Stirling, it becomes very scarce, although of a 

 larger size than usual, measuring from three to three and a 



