48 THE PRACTICAL FISHERMAN. 



did catch a ruffe out of Domesday Deeps, near Shepperton, which weighed 

 5oz. This is a very exceptional weight, however. 



The ruffe is capable, like the stickleback and miller's thumb, of 

 exhibiting what seems very like affection for its fellows. I recollect 

 trying to keep one of these fish alive in a tolerably roomy aquarium, 

 but although it had the society of several minnows, gudgeon, and perch, 

 each successive fish died for no apparent cause till seven were numbered 

 with the dead. At this time I recollected having read that ruffe thrived 

 better in company with their own species, and having obtained two, 

 I placed them in the aquarium, and there they are now, and come 

 regularly to be fed from my fingers on blood worms. 



The habitat of this fish is usually running streams, but it is a mistake, 

 which Mr. Pennell in his " Angler Naturalist" falls into, to suppose that 

 they can live and thrive only in rivers and brooks. I have taken them 

 from at least one large lake, and of a somewhat larger size than the 

 Thames fish. The Isis, and indeed most English rivers, produce the fish. 

 It is also an inhabitant of northern rivers, but is said to be unknown in 

 the south of Europe. 



The food of this fish is similar to that of the perch. All sorts of 

 animalculae and worms are voraciously consumed, and in the process, 

 this fish seems to take a large quantity of earth. It is very bold in 

 pursuit of a minnow also, and, although not so impetuous perhaps as the 

 perch, yet, size for size, and considering his superior powers of strategy,, 

 it perhaps devours quite as many fry. Speaking of strategy reminds me 

 of an incident which proves conclusively the sagacity capable of being 

 exhibited by this little fish. I had placed in my aquarium a large 

 number of tiny crayfish for the purpose of watching the interesting 

 movements of the little crustaceans. Mr. Ruffe, sen. (the larger of the 

 two there established), also seemed highly curious as to the new arrivals,, 

 and soon began to reconnoitre. He became at last so apparently satisfied 

 that they were good to eat that without further ado he approached a 

 miniature lobster of about half an inch in length, and seized and attempted 

 to swallow it. The lively little crayfish, however, did not agree with that 

 sort of thing, for it immediately darted backward, as is the wont of 

 the creatures, with a powerful sweep of its broad little tail. Mr. Ruffe 

 was evidently nonplussed indeed not a little frightened it seemed to me.. 

 He, however, after some consideration and conference with his partner, 

 returned again to the charge, selected a much smaller crayfish, lying 

 recumbent and unconcerned near a small stone. Mr. Ruffe approached 

 cautiously, but this time behind his prey, and thus suddenly by securing 

 the powerful tail he managed to swallow the kicking crayfish like one 

 would, if obliged, prefer to swallow a fork handle first. 



