FISHES OF NEW YORK 127 



of the head equals its length exclusive of the snout. Snout 

 obtuse; mouth anterior, jaws anteriorly of the same length, gape 

 wide, cleft rather shallow; the maxilla reaches to beneath the 

 posterior nostril; lips thick. Dorsal origin over the end of the 

 ventral base, and the fin extends almost to above the anal 

 origin; all the fins rounded. In the males the first or even more 

 of the ventral rays are thicker than in the female. Lateral line 

 gradually descending to about the middle of the length, thence 

 proceeding straight to the base of caudal. Leaden or greenish, 

 lightest beneath; fins blackish. 



The tench has been introduced into the United States. An 

 individual taken in the Potomac river near Washington D. C. 

 has a grinding surface well developed on the pharyngeal teeth, 

 a character concerning which no mention. is made in the current 

 descriptions. 



The tench now extends throughout the fresh waters of Europe 

 into those of Asia Minor. Its northern limit is said to be in 

 Finland. It may or may not be native to England. The species 

 prefers still waters in which aquatic plants abound. It is very 

 tenacious of life and has been observed to live a whole day out 

 of water. Its food consists of insects, larvae, worms, and vege- 

 table substances. 



Spawning takes place in June and July. The eggs are small 

 and adhesive. The rate of growth is rather rapid under favor- 

 able circumstances, the young having attained to a weight of 



I pound in their first year. Individuals of the weight of 10 or 



II pounds are recorded, and Salvianus mentioned a tench of 

 20 pounds. As for the quality of its llesh, opinions differ, some 

 persons considering it unpalatable, while others regard it as 

 delicious and wholesome. 



Genus LELCISCIS Cuvier 



Body oblong, compressed or robust, covered with moderate or 

 small scales; lateral line decurved, complete, or variously im- 

 perfect; mouth .usually large and terminal, the lips normal, with- 

 out barbel; teeth mostly 2, 5-4, 2 (in American species some 



