268 FISHES OF THE FIRTH OF FORTH. 



put in requisition, and the thousands thus taken afford food 

 to the villagers for a short period. It is remarked by anglers, 

 that during the time these fish are in the streams, and for a 

 week after their departure, not a trout can be taken either with 

 the minnow, worm, or fly, in consequence of the favourite 

 food being at that time the roe of the Roach, with which 

 the trout gorge themselves to a considerable extent. By 

 Donovan it is supposed, that Roach come up in large shoals 

 from the sea to deposit their spawn, and Montagu expres- 

 ses his belief, that the Roach could not exist in sea-water 

 at all. To this I may add, that, although the sea is not 

 the natural abode of the Roach, yet, sometimes it is found 

 there, being carried down from rivers or lakes after high 

 floods. In the Sol way Firth, I saw in the month of June 

 five examples taken in the salmon-nets, and, I was informed 

 by the fishermen there, that in the early part of the season 

 they frequently captured them after a flood. This fish as 

 food, is little sought after, but is in the best condition for 

 the table in the month of October. It feeds on worms and 

 small insects. The only locality known for the Roach in 

 the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, is the Union Canal, where 

 it was first noticed by James Wilson, Esq. 



Leuciscus phoxinus.* — The Minnow. 



Specific Characters. — Body elongated; scales small; base of the 

 tail with a black spot. 



Description. — From a specimen two inches and a half in length. 

 Dorsal and ventral line but slightly convex ; head one-fifth of the 

 whole length, caudal fin included ; depth rather less than the length 

 of the head. Colour of the back and sides as far as the lateral line, 

 in those which inhabit deep and slow running waters, olive-brown ; 

 belly silvery white, often tinged with yellow ; head dark olive with a 



* Leuciscus phoxinus. Ouv., Yar., Flem. Cyprinus pho.vinus. Jen., Penn., 

 Don. Minnow, Bagies, Cumberland. 



