THE BREAM.' 
298 
live of our rivers. The colour of this fpecies is a deep 
yellow ; as an article of food, it is held in little eftimation. 
It is very deep and thick, the back much arched, and 
the dorfal fin fupported by nineteen rays ; the firft twe 
ftrong and ferreted. 
7 he Roach 
The roach, like the other fifh of this genus, frequents 
the Hill or ftagnated waters ; it is an excellent pond filh, 
not only thriving well in artificial llieets of water, but 
replenilhing them fooner than any other fpecies, with a 
numerous race of inhabitants. Its offspring are not fo 
numerous as thofe of the carp or tench ; this extraordi" 
nary fertility mull therefore be owing to a fmaller number 
of the young perilhing before they arrive at their adult 
Hate. 
The roach is fmaller than the bream ; the fhape of the 
body, like that filh, is deep and laterally compreffed, being 
four inches broad by twelve long. The back is dulky, 
with a fliade of green ; the belly pale ; the ventral and 
anal fins are a cinnaber colour, the dorfal and tail fin ha- 
ving lefs of the red f . The fcales are of a filver hue, 
broad and deciduous. The lateral lines are curvated, and 
run parallel to the fwell of the belly : The tail is bifur- 
cated. 
The 
* Cypriikts Rutilus, Lin, Sv ft. Leiicifctis, Rouskl, 
f Willough. p. 263. 
