THE ROACH. ] 21 



coast of Devon, and there is no outlet for the fresh 

 water, except by percolation through the shingle 

 that forms the barrier between it and the salt. 

 There the roach throve and multiplied beyond pre- 

 cedent. Some years ago, however, the sea broke 

 over the boundary, and continued for some time 

 to flow copiously into the lake at every tide, by 

 which " untoward event" all the fresh water fishes 

 were destroyed. But we conceive that this fact is by 

 no means of a conclusive nature, in as far as there 

 may be an essential difference, in relation to the 

 effect upon a fish's constitution, between a forced 

 and sudden, and a voluntary and graduated contact 

 with saline waters. In the latter case there is a 

 physiological expectation or preparation for the 

 change, and we doubt if even salmon, so remarkable 

 for their long and vivacious continuance in both 

 conditions of the liquid element, would suddenly 

 44 suffer a sea change " with entire impunity, or 

 enjoy the "vice versa" 1 " 1 if instantaneously trans- 

 ported from ocean's blue profound, and plunged 

 over head and ears into a " cauldron lynn." 



The roach is a gregarious species, and usually 

 swims in large shoals. It spawns in May and 

 June, at which period the scales feel rough to the 

 touch. It is not held in high esteem as food, but 

 is in best condition in October. The usual colour 

 of the upper parts is dusky green with blue reflec- 

 tions, softened off upon the sides, and passing into 

 silvery white upon the under portions. The dorsal 

 and caudal fins are reddish brown, the pectorals of 

 a more orange hue, the ventrals and anals red. 

 L 



