802 
SCANDINAVIAN FISHES. 
Ekstrom has described the habits of the Zarthe in 
the neighbourhood of Morko. At the approach of spring 
it ascends the rivers, where it remains during the sum- 
mer. Towards autumn it returns to the sea, where it 
passes the winter, in so deep water that it has never 
been caught at this time of year. It probably chooses 
its winter-quarters outside the island-belt. In the lakes 
too it retires to their deepest parts 0 . 
Cunning and shy, like most of the Cyprinoids, says 
Ekstrom, it is difficult to catch, except during the 
spawning-season, and dies soon after it has been taken 
out of the water. It seldom attains any considerable 
size. The flesh is white, but flabby and of poor flavour. 
In a female 31 cm. long and 7 / 10 kilo, in weight Bloch 
estimated the number of the ova at 28,800, whence it 
appears that the Zarthe multiplies quickly enough; but 
according to Ekstrom its growth is slow, and it thrives 
only in clear or running water with a stony or sandy 
bottom. 
In the stomach of the Zarthe Ekstrom seldom found 
traces of other food than crustaceans, insects, worms, 
and, most often, the crushed shells of mollusks ( Neri - 
tin a) ; hardly ever of vegetable substances. 
At the end of May — still according to Ekstrom 
— the spawning-season begins, and the Zarthe ascends 
such streams and rivers with stony bottom as fall into 
the sea or the great lake where it has passed the winter. 
The roe is deposited on and adheres to the stones, 
against which the spawning fish eagerly rubs itself in 
order to get rid of its burden. 
In spring and autumn, as it roves to and from 
the spawning-place, small numbers of Zarthe are taken 
among other fishes with net and seine in Sodermanland. 
During the spawning-season it is caught in a special 
kind of large hand-net. 
In the localities affected by the Zarthe for the pur- 
pose of spawning, continues Ekstrom, where it may 
consequently be taken in numbers, it always appears 
on the labourer’s humble board. It is generally but 
little esteemed, and indeed requires skilful preparation 
to suit a more delicate palate. Ekstrom found it best 
when fried. 
Genus ABRAMIS. 
Beginning of the dorsal fin situated at a distance from the tip of the snout less than three times the length of 
the head. Length of the base of the anal fin more than 1 / 5 {21 — 35 %) of that of the body , and greater as a 
rule than that of the head. Pectoral fins shorter than the longest ray of the dorsal fin. Tip of the snout pro- 
jecting only slightly , if at all, in front of the mouth. Scales firmly attached, Leuciscine in structure. 
This genus too is mainly European, and contains 
only a few species (4 determined and recognised with 
certainty, excluding hybrids). Still Heckel 6 divided 
it into 3 genera: Abramis, Blicca, and Bailer us, the 
first with pharyngeal teeth set in a single row and the 
base of the anal fin comparatively little elongated, the 
second with two rows of pharyngeal teeth, the third 
with pharyngeal teeth set in one row and the base of 
the anal fin greatly elongated. The first two genera, 
however, so closely resemble each other in all other 
respects that their division even into separate sub- 
genera must appear unnatural. The character drawn 
from the arrangement of the pharyngeal teeth in one 
or two rows has also been regarded by more recent 
authors as insufficient for the establishment of distinct 
genera. The great elongation of the anal fin should 
rather be employed for this purpose; but the species 
are so few that the division is destitute of practical 
importance. 
The three Scandinavian species may be distin- 
guished as follows: 
A: Length of the base of the anal fin less 
than 3 10 of that of the body. 
a: Length of the lower jaw less than 3 / 4 
of the least depth of the tail Abramis blicca. 
b: Length of the lower jaw more than 
3 / 4 of the least depth of the tail Abramis brama. 
B: Length of the base of the anal fin more 
than 3 10 of that of the body Abramis ballerus. 
Besides these species, however, we must not forget 
three hybrids, which occur in Scandinavia as well as 
a In Atter See (Austria) according to Heckel and Kner, it keeps at a depth of 10 fthms., in winter even 20; and the shoals in 
which it is collected at this season betray their presence by rooting up the muddy bottom and discolouring the water. 
b Russeggers Reise , p. 1032. 
