THE CARP FAMILY. 



151 



walks into the small birds, it is not to be wondered at that 

 they should have a peck at him when opportunity offers." 

 The woodcut represents a scale from the back of the 

 Roach and Chub. 



Roach. 



Chub. 



As before indicated, the Roach spawns about the end of 

 May or the beginning of June, when the scales become 

 rough to the touch. The largest specimen that I am 

 aware of having been taken is that mentioned by Pennant, 

 which weighed 5 lbs. 



The principal characteristics of the Roach are — 



Length of head compared with whole length of fish, tail included, 

 as 1 to 5 ; depth of body at commencement of back-fin to length of 

 body alone, without head or tail-fin, as 2 to 5. Muzzle rather sharp. 

 Mouth small, toothless. Nape of neck rising suddenly, and profile of 

 back more convex than that of abdomen. Scales somewhat large, 

 marked with concentric and radiating lines ; 43 in lateral line. First 

 dorsal ray exactly midway between point of nose and end of fleshy 

 part of tail. Tail deeply forked. Throat-teeth in single rows on each 

 side, 6 on left side, 5 on right. Colour : upper part of head and back 

 dusky green, lighter on sides ; silvery white on belly, cheeks, and gill- 

 covers ; back- and tail-fins pale reddish brown, pectoral fins orange- 

 red, ventrals and anal fin bright red. 



Fin-rays : D. 12 : P. 17 : V. 9 : A. 13 : C. 19. 



