"81 



by its great length, its base measuring about \?, — l.V . 

 % of tlie length of the body, its heiglit about Id "« 

 (sonietiuK's 17 «i-) — 13' a ''/ of the same. It begins at 

 a distance fi'oui the tip of the snout measuring about 

 59 — (ii; % (in exceptional cases 69 %) of tlie lengtli of 

 the bo(h'. Tiie caudal tin is similar to tliat of tiie 

 Roiicli. its middle rays occupying about II'., — T/., % 

 of tlie length of tiic bodv, and measm'ing in ciui- young- 

 est specimen aliout o3 %, in the oldest ones al)out 40 — 

 36 "u ol tliat <if tiie longest caudal rays. 



The pectoral and ventral fins reseralde in form 

 those of tlie Hoach, liut the former are always per- 

 ceptiblv longer tiian tlie latter, the lengtli of tiie former 

 being about 20 — IS ?o, of the latter about 18— Kl '</. 

 of that of the bodv. The distance Ijetween tlie ventral 

 tins and the ti|) of the snout measures aliout 43 (42"2) 

 — 4<'i "(/, the preabdoiniual length about 22 — 2.5 (25'8) %, 

 and the postabdomiiial length about 19 — 2.") (27) ?«-, of 

 the length of the bodv. 



found in Sweden, has not yet been ascertained; but 

 there are no positive instances of its occurrence in 

 Westernorrland, Jenitland, or Westerbf^tten, though Ek- 

 STKoM was told thai it occurred still farther north, in 

 the Kalix I'^lf. < »f its extension in Norway Katuke 

 states (in Asc.wiis) that it is taken in several of the 

 Norwegian lakes, among others in iMjOsen and Ojereti; 

 liut according to Collkti' its occurrence is confined to 

 the south-east of the countr\-, and its range scarceh' 

 extends north of Christiania (60° X. lat.). In Ireland 

 the Rudd and the .Minimw are the oiih- indigenous 

 Cyprinines known. 



In Southern and Central Sweden th(; Rudd is met 

 with in most of the lakes and i'i\ers, as well as in 

 the Baltic island-lielt, bnt nowhere in any great aliuiid- 

 ance. It is known in different localities by diffei'ent 

 names, most often by those of Harf" or Sarfrel, some- 

 times ROdfemt (Red-tin) or Uvdmort (Red Roach). Its 

 favourite haunts lie in thick and weedy water. In 



The scales are also of the same tyjie as in the 1 spring and summer it frequents shallow, swampy coves 



Roach, but larger and coarser, more distinctly striated, 

 and still more closely imliricated. 



To the external sexual characters the same re- 

 marks ajijilv as in the case of the Roach. 



In coloration the Rudd is one of the most haiid- 

 soiiie Leuciscines. The sides are of a silvery lustre, 

 strongly tinged with golden yellow, a bright play of 

 colours being thus produced. The back is dark green- 

 ish, gradually jiassing first into greenish yello^v and 

 then into the colour of the sides. The iris is golden 

 yellow, shading more or less distinctl)' into red. The 

 dorsal and caudal fins are of a light olive green, tij)- 

 ped more or less distinctly \vith red, especially the 



with weedv or muddy bottom. In winter, like the 

 other Cyprinoids, it withdraws to deep water. 



The Rudd is not very active, and makes long so- 

 journs at its chosen haunts. Except on very warm 

 and fine summer days, it seldom rises in the water, 

 but lies at the liottom, buried in weeds and mud. It 

 is more cautious than timid, for though afraid of noise, 

 it does not retire to an\- distance, liut hides, when 

 frightened, in the ooze and weeds, whence no din can 

 dislodge it. Being a greedy eater, and living on plants, 

 insects, worms, and mud, it indeed becomes fat towards 

 autumn, but in the Swedish lakes never attains any 

 consideralde size. It is very sociable and cannot en- 



latter. The pectoral fins are light and transparent, with dure solitude, intruding itself, when it cannot find any 

 reddish tip. The ventral and anal fins, grayish yellow large company of its own species, on the society of 



at the biis(\ are of a bright red hue, of varying in- 

 tensity and distribution in different specimens. In young 

 specimens, as usual, the colours are less rich. 



other fishes, generally those of the preceding genus, 

 especially during their spawning festivities. Hence the 

 origin of the Swedish proverb: Sarfreu i lirar lek". 



The range of the Itudd extends throughout Europe, From this habit, and from the fact that large shoals 



except the Iberian Peninsula, and also to Asia Minor 

 and the interior of Siberia, where Humboldt and Eiike.x- 

 BEiu; traced it to the Obi and Tobolsk. But both in 

 Siberia and Europe the species is wanting in the ex- 

 treme north. In Finland, according to Mel.v, it penet- 

 rates to lat. ti3° 20' N. How far north tlie Rudd is 



are seldom found lireeding at tlie same jilace, it has 

 been supposed that the Kudd holds no spawning 

 assemblies of its own. This opinion is, however, 

 groundless. 



The siiawning-season of the Rudd occurs in Central 

 Sweden at the end of Mav or beginning of June, in 



" In Finland Sorvo, iu Norway Sero or Flaxroi/e (Uathke). 



'' Lit. "the Rii.iil at evi-ry spawning," i. (-. a finger in every pie. 



