406 RAMBLES ABOUT HOME. 



condition is the fact that clear, pleasant waters are with- 

 in their reach, yet they do not see fit to leave their pres- 

 ent unattractive quarters. In certain of the large, muddy 

 pools frequented by roach, I have found some of the 

 largest specimens of this fish that I have ever seen. It 

 is seldom that in Watson's Creek w r e find one more than 

 seven inches long, but, in a deep pool on a neighbor's 

 meadow, roach measuring nine inches in length have 

 been taken. These are very nearly the same in shape 

 and color as those described by De Kay as the " varie- 

 gated bream." Of this fish, that author remarks : " The 

 name of wind-fish is derived from one of its habits. 

 "Whenever a light flaw of wind ruffles the water, thou- 

 sands of these fish may be seen darting to the surface and 

 as suddenly disappearing." This I have often noticed 

 when, on approaching a pond suddenly, I have surprised 

 a school of roach. The habit is not caused by wind ruf- 

 fling the surface of the water, but is due to the fact that 

 the fish were startled, and, indeed, it is common among 

 all the cyprinoids. These fish generally keep just below 

 the surface of the water, and so near it that any sudden 

 movement is sure to ruffle it considerably. Without any 

 apparent cause, hundreds of other shiners will leap an inch 

 or more above the surface, and there is reason to believe 

 that the cause of this is the sudden appearance of preda- 

 tory fishes among them, just as the moss-bunkers, at sea, 

 leap above the water by thousands when chased by the 

 blue-fish. 



Another well-marked variety of the roach, found in 

 a small creek some distance from my home, are small, 

 slender, and of a uniform steel-blue color. Even the fins 

 differ from those of the typical roach in size, and, on com- 

 parison, other constant anatomical differences are to be 

 seen. Some years ago I called attention to this fish as a 



