

OF GREAT BRITAIN. 127 



slugs, aquatic insects, and vegetable substances : 

 they spawn in May. 



The specimen, a fine male, selected for repre- 

 sentation was taken by Mr. James Smithers, in 

 the Wey near Byfleet. Its colours were : belly 

 white ; sides, nearly up to the top of the back, 

 silvery gold with a slight greenish tinge above 

 the lateral line ; all the fins greenish black, pectoral 

 and ventral fins rather lighter ; irides silvery, with 

 a narrow bright yellow circle round the pupils ; 

 upper outline of fish almost black when held up 

 to the light and looked at sideways ; lateral line 

 very concave ; tail exceedingly forked, anal fin 

 very long. 



Other Characteristics of the common Bream. Throat-teeth 

 cylindrical, with smooth crowns adapted for bruising, placed in 

 single rows, five teeth on each side. Mouth small, toothless, 

 without barbels. Scales placed in curves on the fore part of 

 the back, a naked place behind the ventrals. Length of head 

 to body as i to 3. Head small, nape of neck depressed. Body 

 deep and flat, very convex above and below, scales compara- 

 tively small. Scales of lateral line varying in number from 5 2 

 to 58. 



Fin-rays : D. u : P. 17 : V. 9 : A. 29 : C. 19. 



