238 BLEAK. 



of North America, inhabiting inland lakes and 

 rivers, where it is found in the greatest plenty : said 

 to live chiefly by suction, from which circumstance 

 its name is taken. 



VAR. 



THIS variety has smaller scales than the former, 

 and is farther distinguished by a broad red stripe 

 on each side the body, accompanying the lateral 

 line : it is found chiefly at sea, and very rarely in 

 fresh waters. 



BLEAK. 



Cyprinus Alburnus. C. argenteus, dorso olivaceo, pinna ani 



radiis viginti, cauda furcata. 

 Silvery Carp, with olivaceous back, twenty rays in the anal 



fin, and forked tail. 

 Cyprinus Alburnus. C. pinna ani radiis viginti. Lin. Syst. 



Nat. p. 531. 

 Cyprinus maxilla inferiore prominente, pinna ani radiis viginti. 



Block, t. 8./. 4. 



LENGTH five or six inches : shape slender, with 

 the body much compressed : colour bright silvery, 

 with the back olive-green : scales middle-sized, and 

 easily deciduous : tail forked : native of rivers in 

 many parts of Europe, and common in our own 

 island. It is from the scales of this fish that the 

 beautiful silvery matter used in the preparation of 

 artificial pearls is chiefly taken : the invention is of 



