136 THE ANGLER-NATURALIST. 



Genus ABEAM IS 



THE BREAM, OR CARP-BREAM. 



(Abramis brama*.} 



We now come to the Breams, which are distinguished 

 from the thick-skinned Carps by their bright nacry scales. 

 Unlike the latter fish and the Barbel, they have no strong 

 bony rays in the fins, nor any beards at the corners of the 

 mouth. The body in all the species is deep and thin, or 

 compressed, the outlines above and below being very con- 

 vex : the base of the back-fin is short, and placed further 

 back than the ventral fin, whilst the base of the anal fin is 

 very long. 



If we may credit the French proverb quoted by Izaak 

 Walton, that " He that hath Breams in his pond is able 

 to bid his friend welcome," these fish would seem to be 

 in considerable request on the Continent as an edible. In 

 England they are seldom considered worth cooking. Few 

 * Abramis, a Bream, Gr. j brama, the Bream, Lat. 



