52 THE CYPRINUS BALLERUS. 



The C. Ballerus, Linn. (Flira, Sw.), was very common 

 in my vicinity. It is found also in all the more midland 

 portions of Sweden ; but owing to its being often confounded 

 with others of the bream tribe, its geographical limits do not 

 seem to be very well ascertained. 



This beautiful fish is remarkable from its tail being greatly 

 cloven, whence with us it was called the Idng-stjert, or 

 long-tail ; as likewise from its scales being very much smaller 

 as compared with other species of bream, those of the lateral 

 line amounting to about seventy in number. 



Its habits seem greatly to resemble those of the yellow 

 bream. It feeds on grass, insects and worms. During the 

 summer months it generally lives almost alone, but towards 

 winter it congregates in large numbers, and retires to the 

 deeps, where, like the yellow bream, it has its particular stand 

 or station. 



This fish is not in repute for the table, the flesh being 

 soft, white, bony and flavourless. It is fattest and best in 

 the early part of the spring. 



In our vicinity the C. Ballerus spawned in April or 

 beginning of May, and before the yellow bream. The spot 

 selected for the lek is a shallow, with a grassy bottom ; 

 frequently indeed he resorts to over-flooded pastures. The 

 lek lasts from one to three days, and during its continuance 

 this fish, like the yellow bream, is very shy. Bloch found in 

 an individual of a pound in weight, sixty-seven thousand five 

 hundred eggs. Little seems to be known as to the period 

 that elapses before the eggs are hatched, the growth of the 

 fry, &c. 



The C. Ballerus does not attain to any great size. 

 According to Swedish naturalists it is from six to eight 



