THE CAEP FAMILY. 



171 



of head. General shape of body Dace-like, hut easily distinguished by 

 the relatively backward position of the dorsal fin, and by the body being 

 much more compressed, or flatter. Nose pointed ; under-jaw longest. 

 Scales moderate-sized ; number in lateral line about 47. Mouth small, 

 toothless. Throat-teeth in two rows (numbering 2 and 5 respectively) 

 on each side. Colour : back bluish green ; sides, belly, cheeks, and 

 giU-covers silvery white ; all the fins nearly white. Vertebrse 43. 



Fin-rays : D. 10 : P. 17 : V. 9 : A. 18 : C. 19. 



THE MINNOW, or PINK. 



(Leuciscus phoxinus *.) 



As its names t express, the Minnow is a small^ dainty, 

 tapering fishj it is, indeed, the smallest of all our Carp 

 family. It very rarely exceeds 3 inches in length; but 

 its numbers in many of the brooks and canals of Great 

 Britain, over which it is generally distributed, are almost 

 incredible. 



* Leuciscus, a Dace, and phoxinos, name of a fish (from phoxos, 

 conical or tapering), Gr. 



t The term ' Minnow ' is said to be derived from the Lat. minimus ; 

 and ' Pink ' from the bright-red colour of the belly in summer. 



i2 



