GEN. LETJCISCUS. THE ROACH. 71 



bad known weighed three pounds ; and Mr. Pen- 

 nant informs us that the London fishmongers some- 

 times see them as large as five pounds. It is a fish 

 common throughout the temperate parts of Europe ; 

 common too in many parts of England, and more 

 rare in Scotland ; a specimen from which country, 

 be it remarked, having been sent by Sir William 

 Jardine to Mr. Yarrell, was found " somewhat 

 shorter and deeper than those of the South." Mr. 

 Wilson remarks that it follows the lines of our 

 canals ; and may be caught in considerable quanti- 

 ties at the eastern terminus of the Union Canal, in 

 the western suburb of Edinburgh. Its habits are 

 those of the family, having a preference for still 

 rivers and lakes, seeking the deeper spots during 

 the day, and feeding in the shallows at night ; re- 

 tiring also during the winter, and ascending the 

 shallows to spawn in May and June : it is very 

 prolific. Mr. Jesse observes that the Roach, and 

 other small fish, are perfectly aware of, and careful 

 to avoid, those fish which prey upon them. Thus, 

 he remarks, I have seen large Carp swim among a 

 shoal of Roach without in the least disturbing them, 

 while, if a Pike comes near them, they make off in 

 every direction. 



Dr. Parnell repeats, though apparently from his 

 own independent knowledge, the statement of the 

 Statistical Account (vol. xvi.) of the Parishes of 

 Rutherglen and Kilbride, drawn up by the late 

 incumbent, Mr. Ure, that every summer, in the 

 earlier part of May, immense shoals of Roach are 



