362 



CYPRINID.E. 



and Warwickshire. It is the Shallow of the Cam and 

 the Lode, two rivers in Cambridgeshire. It is abundant 

 in the broads of Norfolk, where it is called Roud, a 

 name that occurs in Willughby : it is also common in 

 Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. It is recorded as occur- 

 ring in Scotland ; and I have seen specimens from 

 Lough Neagh in Ireland, where it is universally called a 

 Roach. 



The name of Rudd attached to this species is derived 

 from the prevailing golden coppery tint which ornaments 

 the whole surface : the term Red-eye refers to the colour 

 of the irides ; it is also a translation of the trivial name 

 applied to this fish, which is further distinguished in several 

 countries of Europe by names that have reference to the 

 red colour of its scales or its eyes. 



The Rudd, in addition to its vivid colours, is also tena- 

 cious of life, and is on that account preferred by trollers 

 as a bait for Pike. It breeds freely without requiring any 

 care to be bestowed upon it, and is therefore useful as food 

 for large Perch, Trout, or Pike. It is said to be a much 

 better fish to eat than the Roach, but does not attain more 

 than two pounds 1 weight. The food of the Rudd is worms, 

 molluscous animals, and insects, with some vegetable matter : 

 it spawns in April, or early in May, on or about aquatic 

 plants, and the scales at this period are rough to the 

 hand. 



The length of the head compared to the length of the 

 head and body is as two to seven : if measured to the 

 forked centre of the caudal rays, as one to four : the depth 

 of the body is to the same length as one to three : the 

 head small ; the nose rather blunt ; the diameter of the 

 eye one-fourth of the length of the whole head ; nostrils 

 in a circular depression half-way between the point of the 



