470 TEN YEAES IN SWEDEN. 



deep and clear up to 66 north lat., but is not known in 

 Norway. A ravenous fish; takes a bait freely, but 

 must be fished for deep; attains a large size; 11 to 

 12 Ib. not uncommon; said occasionally to reach 20 Ib. 

 The flesh is white, firm, and excellent eating; but 

 should be cooked directly the fish is taken from the 

 water. Spawns in May ; the roe is very small, and, as 

 well as the young fish, extremely difficult to transport. 

 D. 152,22; P. 15; Y. 1,5; A. 2,12; C. 17. 



6. One single dorsal fin. 

 Gen. Acerina, Cuv. 



Small fresh- water fish, resembling a young perch ; head 

 naked, deeply pitted with small holes ; colour olivaceous, 

 spotted all over with minute black dots on the body and fins. 



4. ACERINA VULGARIS, Cuv. Gers. The Ruffe. D. F. 



Is common in most Scandinavian waters, up to within 

 the Polar circle; but rare in the south. I have seen 

 specimens 7 to 8 in. Spawns in May. D. 15,12 ; P. 13 ; 

 V. 1,5; A. 2,5; C, 17. 



Gen. Polyprion, Cuv. 



Sea-fish, resembling gigantic overgrown perches ; head 

 rough and spinous ; a spiny ridge traverses the opercle ; 

 eleven spiny rays in the dorsal ; preopercle with teeth and 

 spines on the margin. 



5. POLYPRION CERNIUM, Cuv. and Val. The Stone Bass. 



Form of body like the tench; scales covering the 

 body and head, small, hardy, and rough. 

 The largest of the family in southern seas ; said to attain 

 a length of six feet, and a weight of 100 Ib. Has only once 

 been taken on any Scandinavian coast, off Bergen, in Nor- 

 way, in July, 1843. This specimen was 19 in. long; colour 

 when just taken, blue-grey above, silvery white underneath ; 

 tail edged with white; sides and belly silvery white; fins 

 blackish blue ; iris silvery. Br. 7 ; D. 11,12 ; P. 17 ; V. 1,5 ; 

 A. 3,9; C.I 7. 



