OF GREAT BRITAIN. 137 



silver-white on the throat and belly ; gill-covers, bright orange 

 behind the eyes. The whole of the irides red-orange. Pec- 

 toral and dorsal fins pinky-olive, or olive, slightly tinged with 

 red towards the extremities ; ventral- and anal-fins, bright 

 crimson ; tail-fin, with a base of olive-green tinged with crimson, 

 the crimson getting more vivid towards margin, and top and 

 bottom fin-ray. The whole appearance of the fish golden as 

 distinguished from the silvery appearance of the Roach. [The 

 specimen from which the above colouring was taken was a 

 Slapton Ley fish weighing about i^ Ibs., caught by W. G. F. 

 Whittingstall, Esq., October, 1885.] 



The Roach. Length of head, -i-th of total length (including 

 head, body, and tail-fin to the extremity). Muzzle rather 

 sharp. Nape of neck rising abruptly. Depth of body at 

 broadest part only equal to more than the length of the head, 

 and equal to of the entire length of the fish, head and tail- 

 fin included. Dorsal-fin commencing exactly over commence- 

 ment of pectoral-fin ; ist ray midway between point of nose 

 and end of fleshy part of tail. Scales in lateral line, 43 ; in 

 oblique line at widest part of body, 12. Teeth pharyngeal (in 

 the throat). Colours : back, dull olive, or brownish-green ; 

 cheeks and sides silvery, with a patch of orange on each cheek 

 and just over the eye ; belly, white; irides, orange-red. Ventral- 

 and anal-fins bright crimson, ventrals brightest. Pectoral-fins 

 paler crimson, mixed with a little orange and green ; back-fin and 

 tail-fin darker tint of crimson, mixed with a good deal of green. 

 [This is the full colouring of a Thames Roach of about 

 Ibs. weight, taken at the end of October or beginning of 

 November last at Marlow. A slight tinge of gold, perceptible 

 all over the head and gill-covers, increases as the fish gets 

 older, the sides also become less silvery.] 



