NATURAL HISTORY. 



LEUCISCUS. (Gr.AevKtaKoe; from TIEVKOC, white.) 



Rutflus (Lat. shining red), the Roach. 

 Leuciscus, the Dace. 



theft. A quick eye and a dexterous hand are required for this 

 sport. The float is so balanced as barely to appear above the 

 surface of the water, for, unlike the perch, that dashes at the 

 bait and boldly jerks the float at once under water, the Roach 

 does little more than swim under the bait as far as it can, and 

 then just gives a gentle nibble, repeating the process until the 

 bait has entirely left the hook. 



The habits of the DACE are so similar to those of the Roach 

 as to need but little description. It is usually found wher- 

 ever the roach resides, and, like that fish, swims in shoals. 

 It makes an excellent bait for trolling, as the silvery white- 

 ness of its scales renders it a conspicuous object, and serves 

 to attract the pike. It seldom exceeds nine or ten inches in 

 length. 



The BLEAK and the MINNOW both belong to the genus Leu- 

 ciscus. The former fish is remarkable for the use made of its 

 scales, which when washed in water deposit a powder much 

 used in the manufacture of artificial pearls. 



