Page:British Reptiles, Amphibians, and Fresh-water Fishes.djvu/109

CHUB The anal fin has concave edges, and this at once distinguishes it from its close relative next to be described.

Chub.—Leuciscus cephalus (Fig. 48). Belongs to the same genus as the much smaller Dace. The silvery colour becomes more coppery with age; the back is brownish or greenish. The scales are large and prominent. This is, as its popular name implies, a chubby-

looking fish, but by no means ill-proportioned. It attains a weight of about 8 pounds, but a specimen of five pounds may be looked upon as a good fish. It is fairly well distributed, but does not occur in Ireland. It frequents rivers and tributaries thereof, the larger fish showing a preference for deep channels cut out by the action of the water, and where there is some seclusion. I have many times fished for fine specimens of Chub 91