THE CAEP FAMILY. 135 



England about the year 1514. A few exist in Scotland 

 and Ireland. It is the Ysgreten of Wales, the Suture of 

 Sweden, and the Schleihe of Germany. The fish spawns, 

 with some variations, about the middle of June, or, ac- 

 cording to WiUughby, when wheat is in blossom ; and 

 M. Petit found nearly 350,000 eggs in one specimen. 



Characteristics of the common Tench. — Lengtli of head compared to 

 total length of body, excluding tail, as 2 to 7. Head rather large and 

 blunt. Mouth small, toothless, with a small barbel at each corner. 

 Throat-teeth in a single row on each side, 4 on the right side and .5 

 on the left. Scales very small. Back- and anal fins destitute of bony 

 rays. Ventral fins in the male very large, and concave on the inside, 

 reaching far enough to cover the vent ; in the females smaller and less 

 powerful : the males and females may be distinguished by the size of 

 these fins. Pectoral fins large and rounded. Tail, in young fish, con- 

 cave, afterwards straight, and in old fish convex. General colour 

 greenish olive and golden ; fins darker ; lips flesh-colour. 



Fin-rays: D.ll: P. 17: V. 10: A. 10: C. 19. 



