158 THE FRESH. WATER FISHES OF EUROPE. 



in England with a rat partly swallowed in its throat. Chub increase in weight 

 about one pound a year when well fed, and live for eight or nine years. 

 According to Buckland, they are very much like the horse that was hard to 

 catch, and good for nothing when caught. In any case the fish is not much 

 sought after by English fishermen. But national taste varies, and Blanchard 

 tells us that in some localities in France the Chub is a not unimportant source 

 of food supply. It is excellent food for Pike. It is shy but often cunning. It 

 remains motionless in the stream till its prey appears, and then rushes on some 

 Gudgeon or other small fish, which instantly disappears down its huge gullet. 

 When in company it will advance slowly along the banks on an exploring 

 expedition, but under the influence of pleasure or fear, moves with surprising 

 speed. 



Its mouth is not sensitive, and its appetite is always ready for what the 

 angler has to offer. Fatio mentions that in Switzerland the hook is baited 

 for it with bread, cheese, cherries, gooseberries, or plums. It is also taken 

 with the net, and is said to be sometimes speared with a trident. 



Heckel and Kner state that during the period when the elder is in bloom, 

 these fish suffer from an eruption of the skin and often die. In ponds they 

 are liable to a sickness in which they cease to grow, become thin, and get 

 large heads with sunken eyes ; when they must be removed from the ponds, 

 as the sickness is infectious. They are infested with parasites, internal and 

 external. 



Chub spawn during the month of April or May in England, May or 

 June in France and North Germany, and June in Austria ; the date varying 

 with the temperature. The spawning occupies eight or ten days, or a fort- 

 night. The eggs are small and numerous, deposited near to the banks, on 

 stones and gravel. Large troops of fish assemble and spawn together, pressing 

 against each other with lively movements, often jumping out of the water, 

 till the spawn is deposited ; when they leave the locality. The males at 

 spawning-time develop tubercles, which are largest on the head, but extend 

 down the scales of the back, and upper parts of the sides. 



The air-bladder is large, somewhat constricted and slightly bilobed in front. 

 The intestine forms two great curves, and its length exceeds that of the fish ; 

 the stomach is large. 



This species is exceedingly variable, and some of the varieties have a local 

 importance as geographical representatives of the type described. Thus the 

 Leuciscus cavedanus of Bonaparte (Fig. 83), is essentially a southern variety of 

 L. cephalus, though Steindachner attributes it rather to age and individuality. 

 Since, however, this type is met with in Spain and Portugal, especially in the 



iiF, Douro, Mondego, and Albufera Lake, throughout Italy and Dalmatia, 



