CARP TRIBE. 



461 



member of the same group is the rucld or red-eye (L. erythopthalmus), of which a 

 specimen is represented in the left-hand middle figure of the illustration ; this 

 species, which ranges all over Europe and Asia, may be distinguished by its scarlet 

 lower fins, the general hue of the scales being coppery. The familiar and diminu- 

 tive minnow (L. phoxinus) differs from all the foregoing members of this group by 

 the incomplete lateral line ; its range being limited to Europe, although it is repre- 

 sented by an allied species in North America. The habits of all these familiar fish 

 are too well known to need notice ; but it may be mentioned that several of them 

 will interbreed, as they will with species belonging to other genera of the family. 



Representing a genus by itself, the European tench (Tinea 

 vulgaris) differs from the white-fish by the presence of a small pair 

 of barbels to the mouth ; the pharyngeal teeth forming a single series. The small 



Tench. 



tench (£ uat. size). • 



scales are deeply embedded in the thick skin ; there is a complete lateral line ; both 

 the dorsal and anal fins are short ; and the caudal, instead of having the markedly 

 forked form characteristic of the roach and its allies, is but slightly emarginate. 

 The terminally-situated mouth has its lips moderately developed. Whereas white- 

 fish prefer clear running streams, the tench frequents ponds, lakes, and other more 

 or less stagnant water ; its colour, which is sometimes bronzy golden, and in other 

 cases olive-green, with a more or less blackish tinge, is stated to vary with the 

 purity or otherwise of the water in which it lives. Tench always keep near or in 

 the mud, beneath which they entirely bury themselves during the colder months, 

 after the fashion of so many members of the family. A good tench will weigh 

 4 lbs., but examples of 5 lbs., and even over, are not very uncommon. It is probably 

 owing to the abundant supply of mucus secreted by the skin that the tench was 

 considered to be endowed with healing powers. Tench are exceedingly prolific, 

 and as they bear transport easily, are admirably adapted for stocking ponds. 



