184 PHYSOSTOMI. 



the eye. Cleft of mouth shallow, the posterior extremity of the maxilla reaches 

 to below the hind nostril. Snout somewhat overhanging the mouth, the lower 

 jaw very slightly the shorter. Teeth — pharyngeal 4-5, 2-3 | 2-3, 4-5, the sides of 

 some of the crowns of the teeth serrated. Fins — dorsal situated upon the highest 

 portion of the back, it commences midway between the nostrils and the base of the 

 caudal fin, the length of its base equals 2/3 or 3/4 of the height of its anterior 

 rays, which are rather more than twice those of the last : upper edge of fin 

 concave. Pectoral inserted low down and reaching two-thirds of the distance to 

 the ventral, which latter, situated beneath the anterior dorsal rays, extends more 

 than half-way to the commencement of the anal. Anal situated in the last fourth 

 of the total length excluding the caudal fin ; the length of its base equals 3/4 of 

 that of the longest ray, while the anterior portion of the fin is twice as high as the 

 posterior. Caudal rather deeply forked. Scales — three or four rows between the 

 lateral-line and root of the ventral fin. Lateral-line — continuous to the centre of 

 the base of the caudal fin. Colours — silvery, darkest along the back, and glossed 

 with gold. Dorsal, pectoral, and caudal fins orange, with black tips : lower fins 

 yellow. Eyes red. Those from deep waters are coloured very similarly to roach 

 or dace, this fish being subject to considerable variations in tints. 



Varieties. — It has been held by Izaak Walton and many other anglers that this 

 fish is a hybrid between the bream or carp and the roach. The azurine was added 

 to the list of British fishes, some fish of this variety having been obtained from 

 Knowsley. It is less bright, its abdomen silvery, and its fins white. Mr. Pennell 

 found in some ponds near Romford, in Essex, a lemon or yellow-coloui'ed variety 

 of the rudd. 



Names. — Rudd, pronounced Boud in Norfolk, and rudd said to be diminutive 

 of ruddy or red : " The Red eye," finscale, Oxfordshire (Beesley) : shallow (East). 

 Bhuddgoch, Welsh. Be Buisch-Voorn, Dutch. Le Botengle, French. 



Habits. — Not rare in many rivers, canals, lakes, and ponds throughout the 

 level countries of England. It has been asserted that where rudd exist roach 

 are almost invariably present, whereas the converse does not always hold 

 good. 



In Norfolk it is often found along with the Roach, but as a rule the rudd 

 prefers the broads, and the roach the rivers. It lives on the larvse of insects, 

 worms, small molluscs, and vegetable substances ; is very lively and active, and 

 rises at flies and sports on the surface. 



Means of capture. — Bites freely. 



Baits. — These are similar to those which are useful for the roach, but paste 

 and gentles are most generally relied on. Dr. Norman, in Norfolk, recommends 

 a nice red worm, while the finest fish are taken with a salmon-gut line^ and three 

 hooks, a large float, and at least forty yards of strong light line. 



Breeding. — April and May, among weeds in ponds, and is very prolific in 

 almost every kind of fresh water : in rivers it frequently ascends for breeding 

 purposes, and after spawning repairs to appropriate shallows, especially if the 

 bottom is gravelly, where it scours and subsequently repairs to quieter parts of 

 the river. 



Hybrids. — Between this fish and the rudd have been alluded to (page 178) ; 

 also between the rudd and the bream (page 177). 



Uses. — Said to be the best fish for stocking new-made waters with bait for pike, 

 which prefer them to bream or roach. On the broads they are considered the best 

 bait for perch, although in the rivers a gudgeon is superior. 



As' food. — It is said to be preferable to the roach or bream, its flesh being firmer. 



Habitat. — Although widely distributed, this is somewhat a local fish. It is most 

 common in rivers of the north of England or in Scotland (Donovan). In Yorkshire 

 abundant in ponds in Holderness. Reported as in Lake Somerwater and in ponds 

 in other parts of the county, also in the Codbeck. A few have been caught in the 

 Ouse at York (Yorkshire Vertebrata), the Witham in Lincolnshire, and Cherwell, 

 in Oxfordshire (Pennant) : common in broads and rivers of Norfolk (Lowe) : Thames 

 and waters near London. In the Cam, where it is termed shallow : Isle of Wight 

 (Moore) : Devonshire, where in Slapton Ley they breed in enormous numbers 



