LEUCISCUS RUTILUS. 147 



The greatest height of the body is three times the depth of the tail. 



The lateral line runs parallel to the ventral border as far as the anal fin, 

 and is nearer to the ventral border than to the dorsal border; its canal opens 

 by a line of simple pores. 



The scales are rounded at the free edges, with the sides horizontal. The 

 attached end, which is firmly adherent, has a median portion and lateral angles. 

 The scales vary in size with the individual, but the largest are at least equal to 

 the diameter of the eye. They are marked with concentric lines of growth 

 and a few rays, which form slight festoons on the free border. The thickened 

 centre of the scale, and the whole of the exposed part is spotted with 

 blackish pigment granules. The smallest scales are found on the anterior 

 part of the back and pectoral region. 



As in allied fishes, the colour varies with conditions of existence, and 

 becomes most brilliant at the spawning season, especially in the males. The 

 colour of the upper part of the body is some tint of blue or green, sometimes 

 becoming blackish. The sides are brighter, sometimes yellowish, but more 

 commonly silvery, with a bluish or greenish tinge. The belly is silvery- 

 white. 



The ventral and anal fins are red ; the dorsal and caudal are grey, with red 

 spots, and they often have a blackish border. The pectoral is greyish-white, 

 though in old individuals this fin, in common with the others, becomes 

 smeared with red. The iris is silvery, but gets dotted with red with age. 



The Roach grows to a rather larger size than the Rudd, but commonly 

 weighs less than two pounds. Its length is usually from twenty to twenty- 

 five centimetres, though in the Kurische Haff it reaches a length of thirty 

 centimetres. 



Frank Buckland, who was an excellent Roach angler, tells us that the fish 

 is afraid of every float that is the least bit too big, and to catch it the 

 finest tackle must be used. A single hair is much better than the finest 

 drawn gut. The best hair known for Roach fishing is the long peculiarly 

 coloured hair from the tails of Her Majesty's cream-coloured state coach- 

 horses. The best bait is gentles, which must be fattened on sheep's liver. 



The Roach is one of the most widely distributed of fishes, being found 

 in small and large streams, ponds, rivers, lakes, and even in the salt waters of 

 the Baltic. On British coasts it thrives best near to the sea. Its habit is 

 gregarious. According to Yarrell, it frequents deeper waters by day, and 

 feeds in the shallows at night. Its food comprises worms, insects, fresh- 

 water mollusca, spawn, and water-plants. 



According to Dr. O. Grimm, the Roach in a dried state is quite a 

 national dish in Russia, and the demand appears to be increasing. From 



