Page:British Reptiles, Amphibians, and Fresh-water Fishes.djvu/112

BRITISH FRESH-WATER FISHES by the commander of whatever expedition is undertaken. Minnows appear to have constituted a favourite dish in days gone by, and the name is given in ancient writings as Menoun, Minoe, and other renderings.

Rudd.—Scardinius erythrophthalmus (Fig. 50). It is hoped that the unwieldy scientific name of this really beautiful flat-bodied fish will not deter the young icthyologist from learning all he can about it. Curious it should have such a short and simple English name, and yet a long and difficult Latin onym. It may be distinguished from the Roach by being a beautiful bronze or golden colour on the sides, and when taken fresh from the water bright-coloured specimens are very lovely to behold. A Rudd weighing 3 pounds is a good fish, and I have seen members of my family catch a large number of specimens even heavier than this, baiting with dry bread and allowing same to travel on the water, no float being used. It frequents lakes and rivers, and delights in dwelling where water-lily beds abound. It also disports itself in shallow water, especially where one sheet over-flows into another. The bait is often seized as soon as it touches the water, there is a short struggle, but the prize is soon secured. A good ripple on the water is an incentive to fish for Rudd, and as it is a voracious feeder, when once its favourite haunt is discovered good sport may be expected. My father and self, fishing in the River Lea, near Luton, in 1900, landed 120 Roach and Rudd between us from one restricted "swim" in the course of two or three hours. But even this compares 94