SPINED LOACH. 
709 
the base shorter, on an average about 6 % of the length 
of the body®. Its shape varies otherwise exactly as that 
of the dorsal tin. The lips of the vent protrude in a 
tubular form within a triangular depression, which is 
situated just in front of the beginning of the anal tin, 
or at a distance in front of this point hardly as great 
as the diameter of the eyes. 
The pectoral tins consist of 8 or 9*, sometimes 10 
rays. In the last case we tind two simple rays (the 
first, only rudimentary) at the anterior margin of the 
tins; while otherwise only the first ray is simple and 
not much shorter than the second, which is branched 
and either longest or about equal in length to the third 
ray. The remaining rays gradually decrease in length 
and are all deeply branched, except the last, which is 
simple and about 1 / 3 as long as the longest ray. The 
fins are set low down and when expanded occupy a 
horizontal position. Besides the above-mentioned sexual 
difference first remarked by Canestrini in the structure 
of the pectoral tins, we also tind in the Spined Loach 
a second one, which was pointed out by Bonizzi to 
Canestrini. At the base of the posterior (upper or 
inner) side of the pectoral tins we find a cartilaginous 
lobe, set in an obliquely transverse position. This lobe 
is large and of more general occurrence in the males 0 , 
smaller, rudimentary or, most commonly, entirely want- 
ing in the females. Cederstrom noted a third external 
difference between the sexes, consisting in the fact that 
in the males the pectoral tins are as a rule longer, and 
therefore more pointed, than in the females. In 7 males, 
between 50 and 73 mm. long, the length of the pectoral 
tins varied between 15 and 18 % (on an average 1 6 V 2 
of that of the body; in 5 females, between 88 and 96 
mm. long, this percentage varied between 10 and 1 1 1 / 2 
and was on an average Ilk 
The ventral tins are of the same structure as the 
pectoral, but shorter and more rounded. In the males 
their length is about 11 — 13 %, in the females about 
9—10 % of that of the body. In this relation, however, 
we must also take into consideration the changes of 
growth, for the relative length of the ventral tins de- 
creases with increasing age. At the outer angle of the 
insertion of each ventral tin — where in the Teleosts in 
general a triangular dermal flap, free at the top and 
pointing in a backward direction, is furnished with sin- 
gular, generally elongated scales — we find a, small, ve- 
siculate, oblong and posteriorly blunt, dermal swelling, 
which is, however, without scales of a special type 0 . 
The caudal tin, which in specimens between and 
1 dm. long occupies about 13 — 12 % of the length of 
the body, is truncate with rounded corners. The middle 
14 rays are branched. The small, short, supporting 
rays generally number 3 or 4 (sometimes 5 f ) above and 
2 or 3 (sometimes 4 f ) below. The base of the tin ad- 
vances, in the form of a thin ridge, forward along the 
upper and lower margins of the peduncle of the tail. 
The digestive canal is extremely simple, consisting 
of a straight tube of almost uniform thickness from the 
pharynx to the vent, with only a slight expansion in 
the anterior half to indicate the presence of a special 
stomach. The peritoneum is silvery white. The liver 
is long, with two lobes, the right lobe being generally 
the longer* 7 . The ovary is simple, but the testicles are 
paired. At the spawning-season both the ovary and the 
testicles extend forward along almost the whole length 
of the abdominal cavity*. When the ovary is as full 
of eggs as possible, it is deeply forked underneath, thus 
appearing double when seen from below. 
The ground-colour of the body is yellowish, some- 
times even orange, on the back more or less dashed 
with gray, on the belly white. The singular markings 
consist of dark gray or even blackish spots and streaks. 
Large spots are set in a longitudinal row at the middle 
of the back, along the dorsal sides, and along the middle 
of the sides of the body, where they sometimes coalesce 
into bands, especially behind; and between these rows 
“ Varying, according to Canestrini’s measurements, between 5'4 and 7'1 % of the length of the body. 
b Sometimes only 6 or 7, according to Heckel and Kner, Canestrini, and Benecke. 
c Cf. the similar growth in the Bramoids and Blennioids; see above, pp. 76 and 219. 
d According to Canestrini’s measurements this sexual difference is less marked. 
e In the following species this dermal swelling is equally insignificant, in Misgurnus fossilis we have failed to find it at all. 
f According to Lilljeborg. 
'J As usual, however, varying in length. In a gravid female 108 mm. long the right lobe of the liver extends to a line with the tip 
of the pelvic bones, the left to the end of the second third of the distance between the insertions of the pectoral and ventral fins. In a 
male almost ready to spawn and 69 mm. long, the left lobe of the liver is somewhat longer than the right and extends about as far back 
as the left lobe in the female just mentioned. 
h In the female just mentioned the eggs were about 3 / 4 mm. in diameter. In another female, which had partly deposited its spawn, 
eggs l 3 / 4 mm. in diameter were found. 
