182 THE FRESH-WATER FISHES OF EUROPE. 



caudal fin is shorter than the head; its lobes are pointed, and in young 

 specimens the lower lobe is sometimes slightly the longer. The pectoral 

 fin is considerably longer than the ventral. 



The scales are rather long and strong. The hinder margin of each is deli- 

 cately festooned by six to fourteen rays. There is an elongated scale at the 

 base of the ventral fin. The lateral line is parallel to the ventral margin. 

 There are four and a half to five series of scales between the lateral line 

 and ventral fin. The back is grey, shading into steel-blue. The abdomen 

 is golden yellow. The fins are reddish-yellow, but the caudal is spotted with 

 black, especially at its hinder margin. The blackish longitudinal lateral 

 band commences at the extremity of the snout, in the fore-part of the 

 body; it extends over three scales, and is prolonged to the tail. In 

 spawning females both dorsal and ventral profiles are remarkably arched. 

 This species spawns in April. In individuals four and three-quarter inches 

 long the eggs are as large as millet seed. Some specimens exceed a length 

 of six inches. It is found in the Xucar, and in Lake Una, in Spain. 



Leuciscus lemmingii (STKINDACHNER). 



I i) 1 Q 



1). 10, A. 10, V. 9, P. 1415. Scales: lat. line 5963, trans. -^g 



The body is elongated, and compressed, with a moderately arched back. 

 When young the height of the body is less than the length of the head, but 

 in mature individuals the height may exceed the head-length. The head is 

 between one-fifth and one-sixth of the length of the fish. The mouth is 

 small, semicircular, and inferior, so that the strongly-arched snout projects more 

 or less visibly beyond the lower jaw. The angle of the mouth is below the 

 anterior nares. The lips are moderately fleshy. The diameter of the eye is 

 one-quarter of the length of the head, or a little less. The frontal interspace 

 between the orbits in the old fish never equals twice the orbital diameter, and 

 in young individuals exceeds the orbital diameter only by some small fraction. 

 The ventral profile is more markedly curved than the back. The dorsal fin 

 begins in advance of the middle of the entire length ; it is usually opposite 

 to the ventral fin. Its height is at least half as much again as the length 

 of its base. The anal fin has nearly as long a base, but its rays are not 

 so high. Its free margin is more convex than in the dorsal fin. The deeply- 

 forked caudal fin is evenly lobed, and longer than the head. The pectoral 

 fin is shorter than the caudal. The ventral is rounded. 



The scales are small, round, marked with many concentric rings, and a fan 



