ROACH AND RUDD. Dee 
Indeed, recent ichthyological research has thrown grave 
doubts upon the existence of any constantly recurring 
hybrids among fish. Without going into the general 
question, which would be beyond the scope of this work, 
I may mention in reference to the case in point, that the 
Rudd is constantly found in waters in which no Bream 
exist, and that the Bream-flat has been recognised only 
in a comparatively few rivers, whilst in hundreds Roach 
and Bream co-exist plentifully together without either 
the Bream-flat or the Rudd. 
The angler is never likely to be at a loss to distinguish 
between either of the Breams, and the Roach, or Rudd, 
the whole type of fish, so to speak, being different ; but 
between the two latter species I have often known even 
old fishermen to be uncertain, and therefore I will give 
a few of the most obvious distinctive marks of the two 
species. 
The prevailing colour of the Roach is silvern, that of 
the Rudd golden, or silver with a reddish-orangy tint ; 
the body of the Rudd is a good deal deeper and flatter 
than that of the Roach, and the head much shorter and 
more “chubby,” being, in fact, little more than three-fifths 
of the length of that ofa Roach of the same length. The 
most obvious structural difference, however, and one 
which never varies, is to be found in the relative position 
of the dorsal or back fin; this in the Roach commences 
or originates as nearly as possible over the ventral fins ; 
whilst in the Rudd it originates considerably further back. 
