62 THE ROACH. 



The red irides of this fish have given rise in Sweden to 

 the saying : " Rodogd som en mort ;" that is, red-eyed as 

 a roach. 



It feeds on grass, aquatic plants, insects, worms, &c. 



The roach is not in great repute for the table. Much, 

 depends, however, on the water from whence it comes. 

 If from such as is clear, the flesh is white and whole- 

 some; but if, on the contrary, from turbid water, it has, 

 after boiling, a reddish appearance, and a disagreeable 

 odour. 



With us the roach spawned about the end of May or 

 beginning of June. The males were the first to arrive on 

 the spawning-ground, where, some fourteen days afterwards, 

 they were joined by the females. At this time the fish 

 are closely packed together, and from lashing the water 

 with their tails, a sort of whizzing noise is created. This, 

 however, is not constant, but ceases, and is renewed at 

 intervals. 



The continuance of the lek is in a measure dependent on 

 the state of the weather, but usually it lasts from three to 

 nine days. The female deposits her roe amongst grass, 

 or sticks, against the latter of which she rubs herself, to 

 expedite its removal. She is very prolific. Bloch found 

 about eighty-five thousand eggs in one, although the 

 ovaries weighed less than an ounce. The eggs are vivified 

 at from ten to fourteen days. The fry grow rapidly, and 

 at the end of three years are said to be about six inches 

 long. 



In Scandinavia the roach does not attain to any con- 

 siderable size. I do not remember hearing of this fish 



