ROACH AND RUDD. -55 



Indeed, recent ichthyologlcal research has thrown grave 

 doubts upon the existence of any constantly recurring 

 hybrids among fish. Without going into the general 

 question, which would be beyond the scope of this work, 

 I may mention in reference to the case in point, that the 

 Rudd is constantly found in waters in which no Bream 

 exist, and that the Bream-flat has been recognised only 

 in a comparatively few rivers, whilst in hundreds Roach 

 and Bream co-exist plentifully together without either 

 the Bream-flat or the Rudd. 



The angler is never likely to be at a loss to distinguish 

 between either of the Breams, and the Roach, or Rudd, 

 the whole type of fish, so to speak, being different ; but 

 between the two latter species I have often known even 

 old fishermen to be uncertain, and therefore I will give 

 a few of the most obvious distinctive marks of the two 

 species. 



The prevailing colour of the Roach is silvern, that of 

 the Rudd golden, or silver with, a reddish-orangy tint ; 

 the body of the Rudd is a good deal deeper and flatter 

 than that of the Roach, and the head much shorter and 

 more "chubby," being, in fact, little more than three-fifths 

 of the length of that of a Roach of the same length. The 

 most obvious structural difference, however, and one 

 which never varies, is to be found in the relative position 

 of the dorsal or back fin ; this in the Roach commences 

 or originates as nearly as possible over the ventral fins ; 

 whilst in the Rudd it originates considerably further back. 



