228 BRITISH FRESHWATER FISHES 



waters it does not exceed a length of 7 or 8 inches, 

 and one is shown of the natural size on PI. XXXV. 



The Ruffe is found in lakes, canals, and slow- 

 running rivers, usiially swimming in shoals and 

 keeping near the bottom in fairly deep water ; 

 when resting it is not easily distinguished, even 

 when the water is clear, so closely does its speckled 

 coloration resemble the sand or gravel. It is a 

 sluggish fish, feeding on small fry, worms, insects, 

 shellfish, etc., but rarely troubling to go in active 

 pursuit of food. It is especially plentiful on the 

 Broads and in the rivers and canals of our midland 

 and eastern counties; the Rev. R. Lubbock wrote 

 that in Norwich hundreds might be seen on a 

 summer's day, at the piers of the bridges, hunting 

 for worms and slugs amongst the weeds on the 

 piles, introducing the head and half the body until 

 a part of the pier appeared studded with their tails. 



In March or April the shoals of Ruffe migrate 

 from the deep and still waters wherein they have 

 passed the winter to the streams, or to fairly 

 shallow places near the banks of the lakes, especially 

 choosing spots where reeds or sedges grow in the 

 water; here they spawn after the same fashion 

 as the Perch. 



Like the latter fish, the Ruffe is very tenacious 

 of life, and it is held in even better repute as food, 

 the flesh being white, firm, of good flavour, and 

 easily digested ; its small size renders this fish of 

 little account to the angler, to whom it is sometimes 

 rather a nuisance, as it bites boldly, like its larger 

 relative the Perch. 



The name Ruffe is an alternative spelling of 

 ' rough,' and was no doubt given to the fish from 



