THE POPE OR RUFFE. 197 



of each lobe of roe consisting of true ova, the other part 

 having all the appearance of perfect milt, and both ad- 

 vancing to maturity simultaneously. A structure of a 

 different kind, which must be considered accidental, has 

 been observed by others in the carp, perch, mackerel, cod, 

 whiting, and sole." But the perch (Perca fluviatilis], 

 although the proportion of males to females appears to 

 vary in different localities, must not be regarded as an 

 hermaphrodite fish. 



Buckland examined two females, one 3 Ibs. 2 oz., the 

 other 2 Jbs. n oz. In the first he found 155,620 ova; 

 in the other, 127,240; and Mr. Manley states that in a 

 single half-pound fish no less than 280,000 eggs were 

 found. 



Blane says : " A curious fact is recorded, which would 

 lead to a belief that these fish are migratory. It is 

 asserted that all the Irish lakes and the Shannon river 

 became stocked with them at the same time ; but," he adds, 

 " we know not on what authority the account rests." 



THE POPE OR RUFFE. 



The POPE or RUFFE (Acerina vulgaris; genus, Acerina) 

 is closely allied to the perch. Yarrell says that the ruffe 



THE POPE OR RUFFE. 



is common to almost all the canals and rivers of England, 

 particularly the Thames, the Isis, and the Cam. It was 

 first discovered in England by Dr. Caius in the river 

 Yare, near Norwich, who termed it Aspredo, owing to the 



