OF GREAT BRITAIN. 133 



thalmus. It is a pond rather than a river fish, 

 thriving best in broad shallow meres and lagoons, 

 like Slapton Ley, in North Devon, and several of 

 the " Broads," as they are called, of Norfolk. 

 Under such favourable conditions Rudd multiply in 

 an extraordinary manner, feeding perhaps princi- 

 pally on some species of v;ater-vveed with which, 

 at Slapton Ley, I have constantly found their 

 stomachs to be filled. In this latter sheet of water 

 they grow to an occasional weight of over 3 lbs. — 

 specimens from i to 2 lbs. being very common. 

 When of this growth the Rudd affords capital 

 sport as they will readily take a gentle thrown in 

 the same way as an artificial fly, and sometimes 

 ■ — though here I speak from report and not from 

 my own observation — the artificial fly itself. 



When first caught, and in full season, I should 

 unhesitatingly give to the full-grown Rudd the 

 palm for brilliancy of colouring, if not for general 

 appearance, over all other " coarse " fresh-water 

 fish of the British Islands. The general hue of 

 the body is a reddish gold, varying according to 

 the light in which it is seen ; the eyes and fins are 

 tinted different shades of crimson, orange, and 

 green, whilst the cheeks and sides are of a rich 

 golden yellow. From this colouring it is needless 

 to say it derives its English name — " Rudd." The 

 specific name, crythrophtJialnms (from the Greek, 

 crytJu'os, red, and ophthalnius, the eye), has also a 

 similar origin. 



