224 THE FRESH. WATER FISHES OF EUROPE. 



varies. The thickness is one-third of the height. The head measures about 

 one-sixth of the length of the fish ; the eye is between one-third and one- 

 fourth of the length of the head, and is larger than in the Bream. The 

 nasal apertures are near to the eye. The mouth is small, oblique, and directed 

 upward ; its angle scarcely reaches back under the nares, and the lower jaw is 

 rather the shorter of the two. The dorsal fin commences behind the middle of 

 the body, and is less than twice as high as long; the third or fourth ray of 

 the fin is four times as long as the last ray. The anal fin commences opposite 

 to the termination of the dorsal. It is shorter than in the Bream. Its depth, 

 which is three-fifths of its length, is equal to the height of the dorsal ; 

 according to Von Siebold, it may contain as few as nineteen rays. The ventral 

 fins are in front of the dorsal, and do not reach back to the vent. The pectoral 

 fins do not reach the ventrals ; the terminal lobes of the caudal fin are equal. 



The scales are rather longer than in the Common Bream ; their exterior 

 border is rounder, and the basal border more festooned. Scales are absent 

 from the anterior part of the back, and from the ventral ridge. 



The colour of the back is brownish-blue ; the sides are blue, with a silvery 

 lustre ; the belly, which is white in life, becomes reddish after death ; the 

 dorsal, anal, and caudal fins are bluish-grey, but the pectoral and ventral fins 

 are always red at the base, and become redder as the fish advances in age. 

 The iris is silvery, with green flecks. 



This species never measures more than one foot in length, and seldom 

 weighs more than one pound. It is one of the commonest fishes in Central 

 Europe, and frequents lakes and ponds, but prefers gently flowing water with 

 a sandy bottom. It lives in somewhat deep water in the autumn and winter, 

 but in the spring haunts shallow places near the banks. It lives on water 

 plants, insects, and worms, is less timid than the Common Bream, and often 

 remains in one place for a long time. The fully matured ovary may contain 

 100,000 eggs, which are each about two millimetres in diameter. 



The fish spawns in May, preferring shallow places overgrown with bul- 

 rushes. The older fish begin to lay their eggs first, and the spawning commonly 

 takes from three to four days, but may be performed more rapidly if the 

 weather becomes colder. It is always a noisy proceeding, and the disturbance 

 of the water may be seen from some distance. 



The medium-sized individuals spawn a week later, and so on at intervals 

 down to the youngest, which are ten to twelve centimetres long. 



When spawning the fishes are very active, and so heedless that in Austria 

 they are easily caught with the hand. They are nowhere valued as food, and 

 kept only for the support of predaceous fishes. They are frequently afflicted 

 with tape-worm. 



