ABRAMIS BIPUNOTATUS. 227 



as long as high, though in young fishes the relative length is a little more. 

 The i>rg-Ie of the mouth, which is moderately inclined, reaches back under 

 the nares. The ventral margin between the ventral fin and vent, forms a 

 sharp edge, but the scales do not extend across it. The dorsal fin begins 

 behind the ventrals, but in front of the middle of the length of the fish ; 

 it is higher than long, and as high as the head is long. The anal fin is longer 

 than high ; the ventral fins scarcely reach to the vent. The largest rays of 

 the pectoral fin are equal to those of the dorsal fin. 



The colour of the back is dark green, the sides are silvery-green, and the 

 belly bright silver. By the side of the lateral line, which is conspicuous, 

 with its margin of black dots, there is a horizontal blue-black band extending 



Fig. 127. AHRAMIS KIPUNCTATUS (HECKEL AND KNEll). 



from the gill-aperture to the caudal fin. Its width is equal to about three 

 scales, and it extends above the lateral line. 



According to Blanchard, the colours become vivid at spawning-time, 

 when the green tint descends lower down the sides. The dorsal, caudal, and 

 pectoral fins are normally spotted with black, and the ventral and anal fins 

 are yellow and reddish. At ordinary times the black colour may nearly 

 vanish. There is no difference of characters between males and females, 

 except that the lateral line is often a little lower in the male. 



The male usually has the swim-bladder larger, especially in the hinder 

 portion, while the anterior part is smaller and shorter than in the females. 

 Its posterior part is shaped as in the Bream, and the anterior part, according 

 to Fatio, is slightly bi-lobed. 



This fish spawns in May and June on gravelly bottoms in streams. The 



