46 RUDD, OR RED-EYE. 



Roach, the origin of the dorsal fin is only slightly behind that of the ventral fin, while in 

 the Rudd it is conspicuously behind it. The Rudd is generally distributed throughout the 

 level counties of England ; it occurs in the Thames and other waters near London, in 

 Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Shropshire, and other counties. In the Cam it is called the 

 Shallow; but perhaps the Norfolk Broads are the waters where the handsomest and largest 

 Rudd are produced. According to Thompson it is found from north to south of Ireland, 

 chiefly in lakes and slow rivers ; it is generally called a Roach throughout the island, where 

 the true Roach does not occur. 



The Rudd spawns in April and May, among the weeds of pools ; its food consists of 

 larvae of insects, worms, small molluscs, and vegetable matter. In quality of flesh it is said 

 to be preferable to the Roach. Where ponds are crowded these fish never attain to any 

 size, but in suitable waters, as in the Norfolk Broads, they not unfrequently attain to a 

 weight of two pounds. Mr. Manley recommends fishermen who want to make the special 

 acquaintance of Rudd, to betake themselves to Slapton Ley and fly- fish for them on the 

 sandy shallows in the summer months. "I am almost afraid," he adds, "to say how many 

 score I have taken there in a few hours with a single-handed fly-rod and common red-palmer 

 fly, but, remember, with a small piece of white kid glove the size of a gentle flying on the 

 head of the hook. Erythrophthabinis at Slapton runs up to two pounds, is fairly sportive, 

 but is such an easy prey to the seductive kid, that fishing for him loses part of its interest." 

 A Rudd of one or two pounds is a very beautiful fish, with its bright red eyes and fins, and 

 reddish gold body. 



It is often thought that the Rudd is not a distinct species, but a hybrid between the 

 Bream and the Roach. This seems to have been the common opinion in the time of Izaak 

 Walton. "There is a kind of bastard small Roach," he says, "that breeds in ponds, with 

 a very forked tail, and a very small size, which some say is bred by the Bream and right 

 Roach, and some ponds are stored with these beyond belief; and knowing men that know 

 their difference call them Ruds; they differ from the true Roach as much as a Herring from 

 a Pilchard. And these bastard breed of Roach are now scattered in man}^ rivers." The 

 Rudd, however, fairly claims specific distinction, though hybrids between the Rudd and 

 the Roach, as well as between the Rudd and the White Bream, have been observed in 

 Germany and Holland. 



The specific characters of the Rudd are thus given by Giinther : — -"Body elevated, its 

 depth being generally more than one third of the total length (without caudal). Mouth 

 terminal, narrow, ver)' oblique; jaws even in front. There are three longitudinal series of 

 scales between the lateral line and ventral fin. Origin of the dorsal conspicuously behind 

 the root of the ventral. Belly behind the ventrals compressed into an edge, covered by the 

 scales extending across it. Fins generally red, especially the lower. Pharyngeal teeth 

 distinctly serrated." 



The fin rays are 



Dorsal lo — 1 1 

 Pectoral 15. 

 Ventral g — 10. 

 Anal 13—15. 



