814 
SCANDINAVIAN FISHES. 
numerous than in the said species, their number in the 
outer row on the front of the first branchial arch being 
22 or 23, on the outer anterior margin of the pha- 
ryngeals 15 or 16. The pharyngeal teeth (fig. 203) 
are always set in one row, except during the shedding 
of the teeth, when one or two may be found in the 
gums within the main row, which usually consists of 
5 compressed teeth, obliquely truncate at the crown, 
with hollowed masticatory surface and slightly hooked 
tip. The pseudobranchiae are distinct in young Bream, 
in old concealed. 
The dorsal fin begins at the apex of the angle 
formed by the dorsal profile, almost vertically above 
the middle point in the postabdominal part, and at a 
distance from the tip of the snout which increases with 
age, measuring about 52 — 58 % of the length of the 
body, or (in our specimens) about 88 — 94 % of the 
distance between the tip of the snout and the anal fin. 
In this species too its height is about twice its length 
— longest (first branched) ray about 21 — 26 % (some- 
times 27 %) of the length of the body, and the base 
about 1 1 1 / 2 (sometimes 11) — 127 2 % of the same. The 
upper posterior margin of the fin is so obliquely trun- 
cate that in front the height is more than three times 
as great as behind. The anal fin is of about the same 
form, and occupies about the same position as in the 
White Bream; but is generally somewhat longer. In 
proportion to the length of the body the distance be- 
tween this fin and the tip of the snout is about 59 — 
62 %, its base about 24 1 / 2 (sometimes 24) — 27 %, and 
its height in front about 20- — 17 % (in our largest spe- 
cimen 157 2 %). The caudal fin is deeply forked, the 
lower lobe being longer than the upper. The middle 
rays measure about 10 — 77 2 0/o of the length of the 
body, or about 1 /. i of that of the longest ray in the 
lower lobe of the fin. 
The tips of the pectoral fins extend (in the males 
and sometimes in the females) to the insertions of the 
ventrals or a little farther, the length of the former 
pair being about 20 — 2 1 1 / 2 % of that of the body. The 
ventral fins are set at a distance from the tip of the 
snout measuring about 44 — 42 7 2 % of the length of 
the body, or less than 83 % (82 — 74 %) of the distance 
between the tip of the snout and the dorsal fin. Their 
length is about 17 % (16— 1 7 x / 2 %) of that of the body. 
The postabdominal length is always less than the pre- 
abdominal, the former varying between about 17 and 
20 %, the latter between about 23 and 20 %, of the 
length of the body. 
The scales are large, finely striated, broader than 
long, and of a rounded quadrangular shape, with the 
free (hind) part more than twice as deep as long, and 
the anterior (inserted) margin irregularly undulating or 
even smoothly rounded. They are densely imbricated 
in regular rows, and the lateral line runs much nearer 
to the belly than to the back. 
The coloration, which varies greatly according to 
the age of the fish and the water in which it lives, is 
darker in old and fat specimens than in young and 
lean. In a full-grown fat Bream the upper parts of 
the head and the back are yellowish gray, suffused 
with a brassy lustre most distinct on the sides, which 
are lighter and become yellower towards the belly. 
The belly is of a more or less whitish yellow. The 
opercula and cheeks are yellowish white with a brassy 
lustre. The lips are white. During the spawning- 
season the scales of the milters are studded on the front 
part of the sides and the head with whitish tubercles. 
All the fins are blackish gray. The pectoral and ventral 
fins have lighter, almost white bases; but these parts, 
as well as the belly, become suffused with blood on the 
death of the fish (cf. above, on the Sheatfish). The 
iris is yellow, strewn with extremely fine, dark dots, 
and is divided from the pupil by a ring of still deeper 
yellow. 
North of the Alps the Bream is more or less com- 
mon in most of the great European lakes, in places 
where the water is clear, and where at least a few 
shelving, w r eedy shores are to be found. It also lives 
in large rivers where the current is not too strong. 
In such waters it occurs in all the provinces of Sweden 
save Gothland". In Finland it is equally common, and 
according to Mela goes north to lat. 67° 25'. It does 
not thrive in the highlands, and in Lapland and even 
in Jemtland it is rare. In Norway, according to Col- 
lett, it occurs only in the south-eastern tracts of the 
country, hardly going north of lat. 61°. Though it 
does not attain the same size in salt water, it is found 
in the inner parts of the Baltic island-belts. 
The favourite haunts of the Bream invariably lie 
in clear and moderately deep water with a weedy 
bottom, especially where it can find Merlirfs-grass h 
“ Cf. UndercL. Bet. m. Forslag till Ny Fiskeristadga, Stklilm 1883, p. 154. 
b Sw. Braxengrds , Bream-grass. 
