200 THE FRESH-WATER FISHES OF EUROPE. 



dorsal fin; it commences in the hinder third of the body length, it is not 

 higher than long, and its rays are shorter than in other fins. The ventral 

 fins are placed under the beginning of the dorsal, and are only a little shorter 

 than the pectoral. The terminal rays of the evenly-lobed caudal are as long 

 as the head. The lateral line descends in a moderate curve, sinking below 

 the middle of the side. The largest scales are equal in size to half the 

 diameter of the eye ; the free edge of each shows a fan of ten to twelve rays. 

 The concentric striping is rather coarse, and forms a network in the centre. 



There are four longitudinal series of scales between the lateral line and 

 ventral fin. 



The colour of the back is a clear green-grey, with golden iridescence. 

 The sides become silvery towards the belly, with black pigment spots. 

 A broad grey band extends over and along the lateral line. All fins are 

 yellowish-white, with beautiful orange borders, and the same colour is seen 

 in the region of the mouth and on the skin of the opercular plates. The iris 

 is yellow, with brown and silvery specks. 



There are forty-two vertebrse, and sixteen pairs of ribs. The intestinal 



canal is very long, and makes three curves. 



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Chondrostoma soetta (BONAPARTE). 



9 

 D. 12, A. 14 15. Scales : lat. line 57 60, transverse - 



This Chondrostoma is known only in Italy and the Balkan peninsula, and 

 is regarded as a representative of Chondrostoma nasus in rivers south of 

 the Alps (Fig. 111). It has seven pharyngeal teeth on each side, though 

 occasionally specimens are found with the formula 7 6. The teeth are long, 

 straight, and knife-like. 



The body is high ; the height is less in youth than in age ; it may be 

 more than one-fifth of the length. The greatest height, as in all other 

 species of Chondrostoma, is in front of the dorsal fin. The fish is from five 

 and a half to five and three-quarter times as long as the head. The greatest 

 thickness is scarcely half the height. The head is about four and a half times 

 as long as the eye. The orbit of the eye is separated by its own diameter from 

 the snout, and the frontal interspace is one and a half times the orbital 



diameter. The arch of the mouth is intermediate between the condition in 



i 



Chondrostoma nasus and Chondrostoma genei. It is a broad, rather flat arch, 

 the cleft of which reaches under the nares. The snout is thick and arched, 

 and projects a little over the mouth. 



The dorsal fin is in the highest part of the dorsal profile, in the middle of 



