NOTE XIV. 



THE ROACH. 

 (Cyprinus Rutilus, or Leuciscus Rutilus.) 



" The Roach, whose common hind to every flood doth fall." 



Michael Dbayton. 



" Unwary Roach the sandy bottom choose." 



Another Leuciscus, and a fish which seems as difficult to 

 describe as a grayling. Tarrell assigns to the roach many 

 more colours than are in the rainbow. Thus : " The colour 

 of the upper part of the head and back is dusky green, 

 with blue reflections, becoming lighter on the sides, and 

 passing into silvery white on the belly ; the irides yellow, 

 cheeks and gill-covers silvery white ; dorsal and caudal 

 fins pale brown, tinged with red ; pectoral fins orange red; 

 ventral and anal fins bright red; the scales are rather 

 large, marked with consecutive and radiating lines." 

 Another description makes his head " bluish green," his 

 dorsal and caudal fins " dusky, tinged with red;" the anal, 

 pectoral, and ventral fins " bright red," and the irides 

 " bright yellow." Another, his back " greenish." Another 

 says that the roach " is known at once by his bright red 

 colour, and especially by the marked redness of his eye ;" 



