296 



NOTES ON FISH AND FISHING. 



signifies "red-eye," according to its Greek etymology. 

 By the way, fishermen who want to make the special 

 acquaintance of rudd had better betake themselves to 

 Slapton Lea, and fly-fish for them on the sandy shallows 

 in the summer months. I am almost afraid to say how 

 many score I have taken there in a few hours with a 

 single-handed fly-rod and common red-palmer fly, but 

 remember with a small piece of white kid glove the size 

 of a gentle flying on the bend of the hook. JErythrop- 

 thalmus at Slapton runs up to 2 lbs., is fairly sportive, but 

 is such an easy prey to the seductive kid, that fishing for 

 him loses part of its interest. The Eev. Moses Browne 

 thus sings the rudd : — • 



" The rud, a kind of roach, all tinged with gold, 

 Strong, broad, and thick, most lovely to behold." 



But to return to the term rutilus. If it is applied to 

 the roach in its secondary meaning, as "shining," "glit- 

 tering " (again see Latin Die), it is a weak term; for 

 though the roach is "shining'" and "glittering" enough 

 in his way, there are many fish more so in theirs. I 

 always have looked on our friend as a bold and handsome 

 fish, whatever be the propriety of his Latin name or the 

 true description of his colouring; and I have always had 

 an idea that he looks a masculine fish, while the silver- 

 dace (Leuciscus vulgaris) looks feminine, though by no 

 means " common " or " vulgar ; " and the chub (Leuciscus 

 cephalus) neuter. But perhaps this is a mere foolish 

 fancy. Our roach is also called the "red dace;" and 

 perhaps, after all, he is called rutilus simply from the 

 colour of his fins. 



And now I am on the edge of another etymological 



