NATURAL HISTORY. 



TIXCA. (Lat. a Tench.) 



427 



Vulgfiris (Lat. common}, the Tench. 



weeds grow thickly. Roget gives an account of a Tench that 

 had been taken out of a pond almost filled up with stones and 

 rubbish, and which had actually grown into the shape of the 

 hole where it had been confined, evidently for many years. 

 The weight of that fish was eleven pounds nine ounces. Four 

 hundred tench and as many perch were also taken out of 

 the same pond. This fish is even more tenacious of life than 

 the carp. 



THE ROACH AND DACE. 



The ROACH is very common in most rivers in England, and 

 is generally spread over the temperate parts of Europe. It 

 is by no means a large fish, rarely exceeding two pounds in 

 weight, and but seldom attaining that size. These fish usually 

 live in small shoals, and pass from one part of the river to 

 another. 



The Roach is not unlike the Dace, but may be easily dis- 

 tinguished by its bright red ventral fins, those of the dace being 

 silvery white. It is rather a favourite with anglers, as it bites 

 or rather nibbles at the bait in such a dainty and delicate man- 

 ner, that the disappointed fisherman not unfrequently finds 

 the bait gone without the movement of his float betraying the 



