THE RUDD OR RED-EYE. 129 



members of the leuciscini, here referred to, might not be capable of the 

 same variation. These circumstances are of some weight, having been 

 under my own observation. The first is that, notwithstanding repeated 

 trials, I never knew the ordinary bream-flat, undoubtedly referred to by 

 Walton, to spawn within ten days of the roach ; and the other is, the 

 period of incubation is different to almost the same extent of time. 

 I believe it is a well-known physiological truth that no two warm-blooded 

 animals having different periods of gestation will breed together, and 

 why should not the same principle prevail amongst the finny tribes ? 

 The prolificacy of the rudd and their continuing types through countless 

 generations is also presumably an argument in favour of their being a 

 distinct species, as I cannot at present but think them to be. It is to 

 be regretted, however, that authoritative experiments have not been 

 made with a view to settle a question so interesting. It should be 

 mentioned also that the scale of the roach and rudd indicate relationship, 

 but that of the bream-flat discovers no similarity at all. 



The rudd is found in nearly all parts of the Continent and Great 

 Britain. It is the shallow of the Cam, the roud of Norfolk, and the 

 roach of the Irish rivers. Of course, it can, however, be easily distin- 

 guished from Leudscus rutilus, if only, as remarked above, by reason 

 of the difference in the position of the dorsal fin. Virginia Water contains 

 myriads of these fish. The Thames occasionally produces splendid 

 specimens. The largest I ever remember taking myself weighed about 

 l|lb., but I have seen several over 21b., although usually the fish does 

 not grow beyond lb. in ponds and lakes, where they breed rapidly. 

 These fish, like roach, are much subject to parasites. They are remark- 

 ably hardy, and I have kept rudd out of water for hours on a cold day 

 without apparently injuring them. 



The fin rays are usually as follows, but occasionally vary : Dorsal 10, 

 pectoral 14, ventral 9, anal 14, caudal 9. This numbering differs, I am 

 aware, from the numbering of other authorities, but it is founded on 

 many countings. 



As to his capture I have little to add to the remarks I made anent 

 the roach. Old Moses Brown says : 



The rudd, a kind of roach all tinged with fold. 

 Strong, broad, and thick, most lovely to benold 

 High on the surface will with freedom bite 

 At small redworms or flies his like delight ; 

 But angler, when you hooked him, then take care, 

 He struggles long, and breaks the single hair. 



To which last line one might reply, " Not if the angler can land a roach 

 of like size," for although I concede to the rudd on the score of beauty, 

 I cannot yield him the palm of courage and gameness. 



