152 TI1K FRESH-WATER FISHES OF EUROPE. 



The dorsal fin is one-fourth higher than long-. Its soft rays divide into 

 four. The anal fin is entirely behind the dorsal, has a shorter base, is slightly 

 higher than long; its anterior soft rays divide four times, its posterior rays 

 divide three times dichotomously. 



The ventral fins are rather in advance of the dorsal, are rounded, and 

 rather shorter than the pectorals, which are not so long as the head. The 

 pectoral fins are more rounded than in the typical L. pigus. The caudal 

 fin is well developed ; its lower lobe is rather the longer ; its dichotomous 

 rays divide three or four times. 



The scales are large, and firmly attached, largest in the anterior half of 

 the body, and over and under the lateral line, which descends ventrally less 

 suddenly than in the Roach. These scales have a diameter of one and a half 

 times that of the eye. They are four times as large as the smallest scales, 

 which are found on the breast. The scales have the usual wavy concentric 

 striping, and on their free border a fan of five to seven rays. 



At the beginning of the spawning-time in spring, the males develop 

 lenticular spots which rise into white points. Their width and height are 

 often more than the diameter of the eye ; sometimes the blunt cone becomes 

 a sharp, curved spine. On the sides of the body they are larger and thicker 

 set than elsewhere, and cover the whole of the free part of the scale. They 

 are rarely seen below the lateral line. 



The head is covered with similar growths, which often form two longi- 

 tudinal rows, extending, from the upper angle of the gill-opening, forward 

 over the eyes. The hinder head and frontal region is crowned with them, 

 and they extend round the nares. They are frequently so thick-set on 

 the principal rays of the dorsal and caudal fins as to give a notched aspect 

 to the rays ; and the middle rays of the caudal fin are covered with tubercles 

 as large as poppy seeds. After spawning, these tubercles are shed ; and 

 there remains for some time a depression like a scar in the spot where 

 each stood. In life their bases are full of salts, but when kept in spirit 

 the growths acquire a horny consistence. 



In winter the colour of the back is pale greenish-brown, the sides are 

 bluish, the belly is silvery, and the throat milk-white. The upper part of 

 the head is dark ; and the iris pale-yellow, with dark spots. 



The dorsal fin is paler than the back; the pectoral fin is transparent. 

 The ventral and anal fins are half-white, half-red, while the caudal is pale-red 

 in the middle, and deeper red at the extremities of the lobes, which are 

 bordered with grey. 



At the end of March, when the first trace of the wart-like growths appears, 

 the back acquires a darker green, and the sides put on a violet tint, which 



