ABRAMIS BRAMA. 



211 



represented in Europe by Breams, Bleaks, a species of Aspius, and a species 



of Pelecus. 



Abramis has the belly compressed into a sharp edge behind the ventral 



fins, and the scales do not cross this edge. The pharyngeal teeth may be 



in one or two series. Both jaws have 

 simple lips; the lower lip is inter- 

 rupted in the middle line in front, and 

 the lower jaw is generally the shorter. 

 The dorsal fin has no spine. The 

 lateral line runs below the middle of 

 the body and tail. The body is cha- 

 racterised by its compressed and ele- 

 vated form. The genus belongs to the 

 northern parts of Europe and adjacent 



parts of Asia. It is represented in North America by several species, which 



have a smaller number of rays in the anal fin than the corresponding European 



types. 



Fig. 117. I'HARYNGEAL TiSETH OF ABHAMIS 

 HHAMA. 



Abramis brama (CuviEii). The Bream. 



D. 3/9, A. 2631, V. 2/8, P. 1/15. Scales : lat. line 5157, transverse i ^ 



This species is remarkable for its deep body, compressed from side to side. 

 It is about three times as long as high, and more than three times as high 

 as thick (Fig. 116). The head is about one-sixth of the total length; and 

 the eye is one-fourth or one-fifth of the length of the head. The mouth 

 is curved in a horse-shoe form. The snout is blunt. The pharyngeal teeth, 

 as in all species of the genus, are notched at the extremity ; and, as in all 

 typical Breams, are in a single row of five on each side (Fig. 117). The dorsal 

 fin commences behind the middle of the body ; its base is much shorter than 

 its height. The fin is abruptly truncated behind, with the first ray four 

 times as long as the last. The anal fin is much longer than high, and is 

 between one-third and one-fourth of the length of the body ; it is situated 

 behind the dorsal. The ventral fin is placed in front of the dorsal, and 

 scarcely reaches back to the vent. The pectorals reach back to the ventral 

 fins. The caudal has the lower lobe longer than the upper, and equal to 

 the length of the base of the anal fin, while the shorter upper lobe is as 

 long as the longest ray of the dorsal fin. 



The scales are firmly adherent, soft, higher than long, and rounded at 



