2838 THE BONY FISHES AND GANOIDS 



"bream swiin in shoals, feeding on worms, and other soft-bodied animals, with 

 some vegetable substances; and if the water they inhabit suits them, which is gen- 

 erally the case, as they are hardy in their nature, they grow rapidly, and spawn in 

 May. At this season one female is generally followed by three or four males, and 

 they bear at this time a whitish tubercle on their scales, which causes them to feel 

 rough to the hand." In some of the Irish lakes bream run to as much as twelve 

 or fourteen pounds in weight; and as they are a greedy fish, great numbers can be 

 taken by the aid of ground baiting. Of the other two species here figured, the zope 

 (A. ballerus), forming the second figure from the top, is an inhabitant of Germany, 

 Holland, and Sweden; while the zarthe (A. vimba], is found in the Danube, as well 

 as in the rivers of North Germany, Sweden, and Russia. The latter species may be 

 easily recognized by the keeled upper surface of the tail, and the projecting muzzle; 

 while the zope is characterized by the great elongation of the anal fin, which com- 

 mences opposite to the dorsal, and extends nearly to the tail, combined with the 

 oblique direction of the cleft of the mouth. 



By this name is known in Austria the typical representative 



(Aspius rapax} of a small genus of carps, containing four species 

 from Eastern Europe and China, and somewhat intermediate in structural char- 

 acteristics between the breams and the bleaks. Agreeing with the former in the 

 shortness of the gill rakers, these fishes always have the lower jaw projecting con- 

 siderably beyond the upper, which is but slightly protractile; the anal fin never has 

 less than thirteen rays; and the sharp lower edge of the abdomen behind the pelvic 

 fins is crossed by the scales. Common in Eastern and Northern Europe, although 

 unknown in the British Islands, the rapfen is generally found in lakes or rivers 

 flowing through level country; as it requires clear but tranquil waters. In color it 

 is bluish black above, with the sides bluish white, and the under surface white; the 

 dorsal and anal fins being blue, and the others tinged with red. In weight this fish 

 does not exceed a dozen pounds, and in length never measures more than a yard. 

 Especial interest attaches to the beautiful little fish known as the 



bleak (Albumus lutidus}, of which a figure is given on the right 

 side of the illustration on p. 2836, on account of the use of the pearly matter from 

 its scales in the manufacture of artificial pearls. Of bleak there are fifteen species, 

 ranging over Europe and Western Asia; the common British species being found 

 only to the north of the Alps, although represented by an allied form in Italy. 

 From both the preceding genera these fish are distinguished by the slender and 

 lanceolate form of the closely set gill rakers. The body is more or less elongate, 

 with the scales of moderate size, and the lateral line running below the middle of 

 the tail. The fins are generally similar to those of the last genus; and the lower 

 jaw projects more or less beyond the upper, which is protractile. In the hinder 

 part of the abdomen the scales do not extend across the sharp lower edge. Gener- 

 ally about four or five inches in length, and never exceeding seven, the common 

 bleak is steel blue in color above, with silvery white sides and under surface, and 

 the dorsal and caudal fins gray, the others being colorless. It is found in rivers, 

 lakes, and ponds, preferring clear water; and in calm, warm weather swimming 

 rapidly about near the surface in search of flies and other insects. During the 



