54 



DACE. 



Dart, 



Cyprinus leucism.s, 



Leuciscus vulgaris, 



WiLLOUGHBY; p. 2G0, table Q. 10. 

 LiNN^crs. Bloch; pi. 97. Donovan; pi. 77. 

 Jenyns; Manual, p. 410. 

 CuviER. Fleming; Br. Animals, p. 187. 

 Yarrell; Br. Fishes, vol. i, p. 404 



The Dace is a lively and active fish, of sociable habits, and 

 prefers a clear stream which flows over a clean gravelly bottom, 

 with an abundant supply and depth of water. In the cold 

 and darker seasons of the year it keeps close to the bottom, near 

 shaded banks; but in bright and warm weather it rises 

 to the surface, where it is ever ready to seize a fly, and, 

 contrary to what is usual with others of this family, it will 

 even leap after it in the manner of the common Trout. It is 

 also freely ready to take a bait near the ground, and is there 

 fished for with worms, maggots of several kinds, and artificial 

 pastes. The time of spawning is in April and May, and in 

 some rivers it increases abundantly; but from some cause not 

 easily understood there are many streams in which it is not 

 found. Thus it is not kTiown in Ireland or Scotland; but in 

 Cornwall, where no other of this genus besides it and the 

 Minnow is a native, I have traced it to a branch at least of 

 the Tamar which flows by the town of Launceston. It is 

 only moderately valued as food. Walton sums up the character 

 of this fish by saying that Roach and Dace are much of 

 a kind in matter of feeding, cunning, goodness, and usually 

 in size. 



This fish grows to the length of eight or nine inches, with 

 proportions much resembling those of the Roach, the body 

 not being so deep as in the Rudd; and it may be best 

 described by comparison with the former fish. The under jaw 



