180 PHYSOSTOMI. 



spawning, as in July and August, it appears to delight in lying on the surface 

 beneath, the shade of a /tree or bank, while it is very sensible to atmospheric 

 changes. It is exceedingly timid, sinking to the bottom on the least alarm, even 

 on observing a passing shadow, but soon returns and re-occupies its former 

 situation. In October, as the weeds die off, it retires to deeper water, as under 

 willow beds, or wherever it can obtain good shelter. It feeds on vegetables, 

 worms, caterpillars, grasshoppers, beetles, and insects which happen to fall into 

 the water. It will occasionally eat small fish and rise to a fly. 



Means of capture. — Rod and line, chub fishing being greatly in vogue with 

 some anglers. Extreme caution is necessary, as it possesses very quick vision, and 

 even the shadow of the rod will scare this fish, but it generally returns again to its 

 former position, and the fisherman is able to throw his large fly, dab his cock- 

 chafer or grasshopper, or sink his caterpillar, when it will rarely be refused. 

 During the summer months the mornings and evenings are best suited for this 

 description of fishing, but in the winter it will take a bait during the middle of 

 the day. Once hooked, due to its leathern mouth, this fish is usually secured. 



Baits. — Gentles ; a cockchafer impaled on an arrangement of double hooks ; 

 a worm ; a grasshopper ; a moth ; a large artificial fly and even the loach ; a 

 young frog ; skin of beef ; cheese ; a black snail. Red cherries, used in clear 

 streams, is one of the best baits, especially for large fish ; also blackberries ; it 

 will take many berries, particularly strawberries. 



Breeding. — It commences about the end of April or beginning of May, selecting 

 a shallow locality under weeds, and where the bottom is gravelly. After spawning 

 it passes to the swiftest streams, when it soon recovers its strength and becomes 

 fit for the angler. 



Hybrids have been recorded between this species and the bleak. D. 11, A. 

 13-16, L. 1. 45-54. Height of body 4f of that of the total length; 3 rows of 

 scales between the lateral-line and base of the ventral fin. 



As food. — Coarse and bony, with little, if any, taste, while it rapidly decom- 

 poses. Is said to be best broiled with the scales on. Dame Juliana Berners 

 observes, " the chevyn is a stately fysshe; and his heed is a deyty morsell." 



Diseases. — Among the Lerneaa, Tracheliastes polycolpus has been found on the 

 fins of one of these fish. 



Habitat. — Throughout most of Europe and extending into Asia Minor. It is 

 found in the Annan and other rivers of the south of Scotland : but absent 

 from the north, as well as from some parts of the west of England. It is found 

 in Cumberland, in the Caldew and its affluents. In Yorkshire it is abundant, and 

 generally distributed in the fresh waters ; it is absent from the rivers of the 

 north-east, and from the polluted portions of those in the manufacturing districts 

 (Yorkshire Yertebrata). In Norfolk it is totally unknown in the Bure, Yare, 

 and the Waveney, except, perhaps, in their higher portions. Is present in the 

 Ouse, Thet, and the Wissey near Stoke Ferry (Lubbock), the Cam, the 

 Thames, the Severn, and most Welsh rivers, and generally distributed through 

 England. It becomes rare in Devonshire, and does not find a place in the Cornish 

 Fauna. 



It appears to be absent from Ireland. 



The example figured is 14 - 8 inches long, from the Severn at Shrewsbury. One 

 of 3 lb. 10 oz. is recorded (Field, August 13th, 1881), which was choked in its 

 endeavour to swallow a rat of about half a pound weight. Pennell observed upon 

 one of 5 lb. 5j oz. weight, which measured 21 inches in length. It has been said to 

 grow to 7 lb. weight in this country, and considerably larger in the waters of 

 the continent of Europe. 



3. Leuciscus vulgaris, Plate CXXXIII, fig. 1. 



Vandoise, Belon. p. 314. Leucisci 2nd species, Rondel. Pise. Fluv. p. 192 ; 

 Gesner, p. 26. Dace or Dare, Willugh. p. 266, t. Q10, f. 3; Ray, Synop. Pise, 

 p. 121; Pennant, Brit. Zool. (Ed. 1776) iii, p. 366, (Ed. 1812) iii, p. 483. 

 Leuciscus, Jonston, lib. iii, t. i ; c. 7, p. 136, pi. xxvi, t. 10, 11, 12. Cyprinus, 



