38 THE FRESH-WATER FISHES OF EUROPE. 



The general colour is yellowish, becoming a brownish-olive or olive- 

 green towards the back, and silvery-white on the belly. It is marked 

 on the sides with three or four black bands, which are longitudinal ; the 

 first is near to the back, the second is near to the lateral line, the third 

 commences above the pectoral fin, and joins the second near the tail. The 

 fourth band, which is sometimes made up of spots, runs between the pectoral 

 and ventral fins. The membrane of the whitish dorsal fin is marked with three 

 or four rows of blackish spots, which do not extend on to the portion with 

 soft rays. At the end of the caudal fin there are small black spots, and 

 the other fins are more or less yellow. This fish weighs about half a pound; 

 it grows slowly, and lives for fifteen or twenty years. Its habits are similar 

 to those of Acerina cernua. 



It is not uncommon in the Danube and some of its tributaries. In 

 Bohemia it is known as the Gesdik, at Budweis it is termed the Sckrazl ; 

 but in general it is known on the Danube as the Schrasen, or Schratzel. 



Acerina rossica (CUVIER). 



D. 17/12, P. 15, V. 1/5, A. 2/6, C. 17. 



This fish is not uncommon in the south of Russia, where it is known 

 as BlritchoJc, or Bahyr, though it has other local names. It is found in 

 the Dniester, Dnieper, and Bug, and is especially abundant in the Don 

 and Donetz. 



The anterior part of the head, between the eyes and the snout, is greatly 

 prolonged, so that the eyes, which are very large, are placed far back. 

 The mouth is small. The round spots on the sides of the body are ar- 

 ranged quincuncially, or in series of five. Their colour is blue-black. The 

 dorsal fins are spotted with black. 



There are fifty-five scales in the lateral line. 



GENUS : Lucioperca (CuviER). 



The Pike-Perches have an elongated form of body, which suggests the 

 Pike, as do the large teeth, which occur among the villiform teeth in the 

 jaws. In general character Lucioperca resembles the Perch, having two dorsal 

 fins, with twelve to fourteen spines in the first dorsal. The anal fin has two 

 spines, the pre-operculum is serrated, the palatine bones are toothed, the 



