130 NATURAL HISTORY. 



the Crimea, and Danube. The Leuciscus zeregi is a small fish two inches and a half long, from the 

 Lake of Galilee. 



The Chub (Leuciscus cephalus) occurs throughout the fresh waters of Europe and Asia Minor. 

 It is common in the Thames, and many of the rivers of England, preferring rapid waters with a clean 

 bed. It seeks shelter in holes equally from the heat of summer and the cold of winter. It, as a rule, 

 takes a mixed diet, made up partly of insects undergoing their metamorphosis in the water, partly of 

 worms and water-plants. It spawns towards the beginning of summer. It does not reach a larger 

 size than a weight of five pounds, and is held in no favour for eating, though Yarrell states it is best 

 when broiled with its scales on. The scales are large and thick ; the lateral line is concave in length. 

 The colour is a brownish-green, becoming paler on the sides ; the tail and lower fins are reddish. 



The Dace (Leuciscus vulgaris) has an oblong body, with a moderately broad head and narrow 

 mouth ; the middle sub-orbital bones are very narrow. The origin of the dorsal fin is opposite to the 

 hinder part of the root of the ventral fin. The sides have a shining, silvery appearance. There are 

 four longitudinal rows of scales between the ventral fin and the lateral line. The pharyngeal teeth 

 are hooked. It is found in Europe only, and ranges from Lapland southward to the Alps. When 

 fully grown, it is eight or nine inches long, and somewhat resembles the Roach in appearance. It 

 prefers clear streams where the water is deep and the bottom gravelly. Its habit is gregarious ; it 

 feeds on worms, and many kinds of soft food. It spawns in early summer. Its flesh is but little 

 valued, though it is preferred to the Roach. Dr. Giinther regards the Graining which Yarrell 

 described as Leuciscus lancastriensis as a variety of the Dace. Yarrell remarks that the nose is 

 rounder than that of the Dace, the eye larger, the pi-ofile of the head straighter, the scales lai-ger, 

 and enumerates various minor differences. 



The Ide (Leuciscus idus) is a well-known European fish found in the brackish waters of 

 the Baltic, and ranging through the Scandinavian countries, Germany, and Austria. It is also said 

 to have been taken at the mouth of the river Nith, in Scotland. It is a very variable species, 

 with the jaws even in front, and the body slightly elevated. In Sweden, examples have weighed 

 four or five pounds. When boiled in salt water the flesh becomes red, like that of the Salmon. 

 The sides of the fish are typically bluish-grey, but the variety named Orf us is of a uniform orange 

 colour. 



The Red-eye, or Rudd (Leuciscus erytlirophthalmus], is another fish with an elevated body ; the 

 part of the belly behind the ventral fins is compressed into a sharp edge, and covered by scales which 

 extend across it. The origin of the dorsal fin is behind the root of the ventral fin. There are three 

 rows of scales between the ventral fin and the lateral line. It is a widely distributed species, occurring 

 in Britain, throughout Europe, and in Asia Minor. Its eyes are bright-red, and the fins are red also, 

 though the colour is more marked in the lower fins than in the upper ones. The body is brown, or 

 sometimes bluish-green. The variety termed the Azurine is remarkable for its blue colour. It is 

 preyed upon by Pike, Trout, and Perch ; is good eating, but does not reach a greater weight 

 than two pounds. As in many allied species, the scales become rough at spawning time. There 

 are several hybrids between this species and other allied fishes. 



The Leuciscus muticellus is a well-known species in the upper parts of the Danube and Rhine, 

 Switzerland, and Italy. 



The Minnow (Leuciscus phoxinus) is a widely-distributed European fish, ranging from Norway to 

 the Danube, and well known in England. It is the smallest British species of the family. Almost every 

 fish in the river preys upon it. The Minnows have a remarkable habit of arranging themselves 

 in circles, with the snout towards the centre, when any substance which can serve as food is 

 thrown in the water. This arrangement has been compared to the petals of a flower. The Minnow 

 rarely exceeds a length of three inches. The flavour is good, especially when fried, but they can 

 only be taken in sufficient quantity for a meal with a net. They spawn in June 011 gravelly soil, 

 and are hatched in a few days. The dorsal fin is opposite the space between the ventral and anal fins. 

 The tail is forked, and there is a blackish spot at its base, with many spots extending along 

 the middle of the body, which is otherwise of an olive-brown, becoming lighter at the sides. In 

 summer the belly acquires a pink tint. The pharyngeal teeth are claw-shaped. 



More than half the species of Leuciscus occur in America, where they are widely distributed in 



