CHAPTER XVIII. 



THE AZURINE, OR BLUE ROACH. 



THE azurine, or blue roach (Leuciscus cosrulues) is an exceedingly rare 

 fish, and is said to be found only in a few localities in the neighbourhood 

 of Knowsley. Yarrell added it to the list of British fishes. A relative 

 of mine has taken one from the Thames which weighed nearly ilb., whilst 

 barbel fishing at Chertsey, and he thus describes it : Very much like 

 the radd in configuration, but of a slate blue colour on back, and belly 

 silvery white, and white fins. It took a lobworm. 



Its flesh is said to be firm, of good flavour, and its habits are like 

 those of the carp. It spawns in May. Its other general characteristics 

 are : Depth of body compared with length of head and body only as 2 to 

 7. Nose blunt, head small and depressed, back and belly rather convex, 

 mouth small and toothless, throat teeth in two rows, numbering 2 and 5 

 respectively on each side, scales large, and differing from those of the 

 rudd, being much less striated, than either that fish or the roach ; scales 

 in lateral line about 42, lateral line concave. The dorsal fin commences 

 half-way between eye and end of fleshy portion of tail, pectoral fins 

 rather long, reaching almost to the origin of the ventrals, which arise in 

 advance of the dorsal fin, thus bringing the fin over the space between the 

 ventral and anal fins. Fleshy part of fins narrow ; tail deeply forked. 

 By the same authority the fin rays are stated as follows : Dorsal 10, 

 pectoral 15, ventral 9, anal 12, caudal 19. 



K 2 



