178 PHYSOSTOMI. 



originate hybrids with i/he roach. The first I shall allude to is said to he the 

 bream, Abramis brama, forming Cyprinus buggenliagii, Bloch, and which has been 

 taken not only in England bnt likewise in Ireland. There is, however, one little 

 but insuperable difficulty in this identification of Dr. Gunther's (Catal. vi, p. 214), 

 which is, that as the roach* does not occur in Ireland it is difficult to see how it 

 could form a hybrid there with the bream, rendering it much more probable that 

 if the form is a cross it is between the rudd and the bream, to which I have 

 therefore referred it. 



Another cross is believed to occur between the roach and the rudd, the 

 Leuciscus afjinis C. V., or Scardiniopsis anceps, Jackel, and which has been 

 found in France and Bavaria. D. 13, A. 14-15, L. 1. 40-42. Origin of the dorsal 

 fin rather more posterior than in L. rutilus, the pharyngeal teeth deeply serrated, 

 5-5 or else 5 or 6, 1 or 2 — 1 or 2, 5. 



A hybrid is likewise considered to take place between the roach and Abramis 

 blicca. A. 14-18, L.l. 43-46, L. tr. 8|-10f/7§. Pharyngeal teeth in one or two 

 rows. This form has been observed in Holland, Belgium, and Germany, and it 

 is difficult in some examples to decide whether the Abramis brama or A. blicca 

 can be considered the form which has crossed with the roach. 



As food. — Coarse, flabby and insipid, consequently is but rarely eaten. It is 

 in the best condition about October, and when taken from clear water flowing 

 over a gravelly bottom : some have recommended it baked in layers in a pie 

 dish, with intermediate bay leaves and a little spice. 



Habitat.— In most rivers in temperate portions of Europe. Generally through 

 Great Britain, but absent from Ireland, where the Rudd, L. erythrophthalrmts, 

 takes its place and has been recorded as this species. 



Early in May immense shoals are observed to leave Loch Lomond and ascend 

 tributaries to breed. This lasts about three days, and anglers remark that during 

 this brief period not a trout can be taken, either with the minnow, worm or fly 

 as they gorge themselves with the roe of the roach (Ure). Also found in the 

 Union Canal, near Edinburgh (Wilson). 



A fresh-water resident in Yorkshire, abundant and generally distributed, 

 except in the North-Western Fell district and the polluted rivers, from which it 

 is absent. Has been introduced into canals, reservoirs, and ponds (Yorkshire 

 Vertebrata) . It is common in streams and broads in Norfolk (Lowe), and 

 generally distributed throughout Great Britain. In Devonshire it is found in the 

 Exeter canal, some ponds by the South Devon Railway, and Slapton-Ley Lake, 

 while it is very abundant in the River Axe (Parfitt) : it is absent from Cornwall 

 (Cornish Fauna). 



Although it is rare to capture one of these fish over 2 lb. weight, one of 2 lb. 

 12| ounces was taken by Mr. Stead in Bedfordshire in 1881 (Field, Nov. 2nd, 

 1881). The largest observed by Jesse in the Thames was 3 lb. weight, while 

 Pennant remarks that a London fishmonger informed him of one which 

 weighed 5 lb. 



2. Leuciscus ceph.alus,t Plate CXXXII, fig. 1. 



Squalus, Belon. p. 315 ; Salv. p. 83. Capita ffuviatilis, Rondel. Pise. Fluv. 

 p. 190 ; Gesner, p. 1266 ; Aldrov. p. 603. Mugil vel Cephali fluviatilis, Willugh. 

 p. 261 ; Ray, p. 119. Chub, Willugh. p. 255, t. Q10, f. 1 ; Pennant, Brit. Zool. 



* The rudd is termed the roach or red roach in Ireland, the true roach, according to Thompson 

 not being found there. 



■f An example, possibly of this fish, was captured by Dr. Walker at the mouth of the Firth. 

 Dr. Stewart considered it to be the ide Leucisus idus, Linn., and on this account the ide has been 

 introduced by Yarrell and Couch into the British Fauna. Yarrell (ed. i), p. 344, c. fig. from 

 Meidinger (ed. 2), i, p. 39.5, c. fig. from Ekstrom (ed. 3), i, p. 418; Couch, iv, p. 63, pi. exeviii. 

 Buckland, Familiar History of British Fish (ed. 2), p. 360, remarks that 200 of the beautiful golden 

 variety were deposited in one of the Duke of Bedford's ponds at Woburn Abbey, in 1874. They 

 bred there last year, 1882, for the first time since their introduction, and although they may at some 

 future date be properly included in a British Fish-fauna, they can scarcely be so at present, as they 

 are not yet found in a wild state as are some other acclimatized foreign forms. 



