RED-EYE. 



413 



Warwickshire. It is the Shallow of the Cam in Cambridge- 

 shire. It is abundant in the broads of Norfolk, where it is 

 called Roud, a name that occurs in Willughby ; it is also 

 common in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. It is recorded as 

 occurring in Scotland ; and I have seen specimens from 

 Lough Neagh in Ireland, where it is universally called a 

 Roach. 



The name of Rudd attached to this species is derived 

 from the prevailing golden coppery tint which ornaments 

 the whole surface : the term Red-eye refers to the colour of 

 the irides ; it is also a translation of the trivial name applied 

 to this fish, which is further distinguished in several countries 

 of Europe by names that have reference to the red colour of 

 its scales or its eyes. 



The Rudd, in addition to its vivid colours, is also tena- 

 cious of life, and is on that account preferred by trollers as a 

 bait for Pike. It breeds freely without requiring any care to 

 be bestowed upon it, and is therefore useful as food for large 

 Perch, Trout, or Pike. It is said to be a much better fish 

 to eat than the Roach, but does not attain more than two 

 pounds 1 weight. The food of the Rudd is worms, mollus- 

 cous animals, and insects, with some vegetable matter ; it 

 spawns in April, or early in May, on or about aquatic plants, 

 and the scales at this period are rough to the hand. 



The length of the head compared to the length of the 

 head and body is as two to seven : if measured to the forked 

 centre of the caudal rays, as one to four : the depth of the 

 body is to the same length as one to three : the head small ; 

 the nose rather blunt ; the diameter of the eye one-fourth of 

 the length of the whole head ; nostrils in a circular depression 

 half-way between the point of the nose and the anterior edge 

 of the orbit ; the nape and back rise suddenly, the whole 

 dorsal line very convex ; the fleshy portion of the tail narrow ; 

 abdominal line also convex, the depth of the body decreasing 



