TINCA VULGARIS. 



189 



Tinea vulgaris (CuviEii). THE TENCH. 



D. 1112, A. 910, V. 1011, P. 1517, C. 19. 



The Tench (Fig. 102) has the body about four times as long- as high. Its 

 head varies in length, and may be a little longer than the height of the body, 

 or a little shorter. The thickness of the fish is about one-half its height, 

 but all measurements vary with age and sex. The diameter of the eye is 

 about one-sixth of the length of the head. The eye is one and a half times its 



Fig. 102. TINCA VVLGARIS (CUVIEK). 



own diameter behind the extremity of the snout, and distant two and a half 

 diameters from the eye on the other side of the head. The nasal apertures 

 are midway between the orbital ring and the extremity of the snout. The 

 mouth is rather small ; it opens at the extremity of the snout, and its hinder 

 angles incline upwards under the nares. The jaws are equal, the lips fleshy, 

 and the small barbels have a length equal to one-half the diameter of the 

 eye. Fig. 103 shows the pharyngeal teeth. 



The contour of the body ascends in an even, moderate curve from the 

 snout to the dorsal fin, with a slight indentation in the occipital region, 

 which is, however, more marked in males. The height of the tail is greater 

 than in the previously described genera, and may be equal to half the 

 greatest height of the fish. 



All the fins are rounded. The dorsal fin is rather nearer to the end of the 

 tail, than to the snout ; its first ray is rudimentary, and is counted as an 



