12 ACANTHOPTERYGII. 



developed spine : the posterior edge of the preopercle with 3 or 4 sharp teeth, the 

 lowest which is at the angle and turned downwards and forwards, occasionally the 

 superior ones are double : lower edge of opercle with two forwardly directed 

 spines. Lower edge of preorbital festooned. The openings of large pores, 

 situated in depressions, extend in 2 rows along either side of the head, the 

 superior being below the lower edge of the sub-orbital ring, and the inferior 

 passing along the lower jaw and round the opercular margin. Anterior nostril 

 the smaller and provided with a valve, the posterior oval and patent. Shoulder 

 scale and one at angle of pectoral fin spinate. Teeth — in numerous villiform 

 rows in jaws, none on vomer, palatines, or tongue. Fins — dorsal spines rather 

 strong, the third and fourth the highest and equalling the length of the head 

 behind the middle or even front edge of the eye, they decrease perceptibly in 

 length from the 7th or 8th, while the last is slightly higher than the preceding 

 one : rays lower than the spines. Pectoral as long as the head excluding the 

 snout. Ventral does not reach the anal. First anal spine equals half the length of 

 the head, and is usually slightly longer and stronger than the second, caudal 

 emarginate. Scales — ctenoid, none on the head or fins : about 15 rows between 

 the lateral-line and base of the ventral fin : 62 to 64 rows passing from the back 

 to the lateral-line. Tubes along the lateral-line double. Intestines with a fold : 

 its length from the pylorus to the vent equals that of the entire fish excluding the 

 caudal fin. Colours — grayish, or olive-brown, spotted with black or brown, 

 becoming lighter on the sides and almost white on the abdomen. Dorsal, caudal, 

 pectoral, and anal fins with spots which may coalesce on the pectoral fins so as to 

 form bands. Ventral, reddish-yellow. 



Varieties. — Examples of a rather elongated form obtained from Russia exist in 

 the Leyden Museum. 



Names. — Ruffe, ruff, or Jaclc-ruffe are terms probably derived from the rough- 

 ness of the edges of the scales : pope is said to be a term of contempt, a contemp- 

 tuous phrase still in use in Dorsetshire being " what a pope of a thing." A cruel 

 custom obtains near Windsor on the Thames, of pressing a cork tightly down 

 on to the spines of the dorsal fin, and subsequently the fish is returned to the 

 river. This is termed " plugging a pope," the origin of which is unknown. 

 Tommy-bars is likewise a provincial term' for this fish. Y gamoberc, Welsh. Pos, 

 Dutch. La ffremille commune, French. 



Habits. — A gregarious fresh-water fish, living in large companies, and keeping 

 to the tolerably deep water, where it prefers cold and shady places to warm 

 situations : thriving best in ponds through which a stream flows, canals, and 

 sometimes selecting those portions that are rocky or strewed with stones and sand. 

 It is lively in its movements and feeds on food similar to that which has been 

 ascribed to the common perch. In confinement it becomes rapidly tame. Mr. 

 Arderon (Phil. Trans. Royal Soc. 1747) tells us how he kept two in an aquarium 

 where they became much attached to one another. He gave one away, when the 

 other became so miserable that it declined all food, and this continued for nearly 

 three weeks. Fearing his remaining fish might die, he sent for its former 

 companion, and on the two meeting they again became quite contented. 



Means of capture. — Similar to such as are employed for the perch. They 

 are often taken by young anglers fishing for gudgeons and sticklebacks. 



Baits. — Identical with those used for the perch or gudgeons, especially a red 

 worm, while it is an equally fearless biter and a bottom feeder. 



Breeding. — In the months of March or April its straw-coloured ova are 

 deposited among the roots and stems of flags and rushes at the sides of streams. 

 In the example figured, which weighed 4| oz. I found 205,000 well-developed 

 ova, while more were present in a less advanced stage. 



Uses. — This fish is frequently employed as a bait when trolling for pike or 

 trout. 



As food. — Its flesh is esteemed, especially during the spring and autumn, but 

 is scarcely equal to that of the perch. 



Habitat. — Fresh waters of Siberia and Russia, while it is common in the 

 northern and central parts of Scandinavia, but rare in the southern districts. It 



