CYPRINID^E. 173 



of the body below it, from thence they rapidly diminish in height, the last being 

 only half that of the third. Pectoral inserted in the lower fourth of the body, as 

 long as the head without the snout, and rounded at its extremity, it does not 

 extend to as far as the ventral, which latter is still slightly shorter and does not 

 reach the anal. Anal commences in the last third of the distance between the 

 angle of the mouth and the base of the caudal fin : its anterior portion nearly 

 twice as high as its last rays : caudal deeply forked, with pointed lobes. Scales 

 large and the exposed portion angular. Lateral-line continuous to the middle 

 of the base of the caudal fin : tubes simple. Pharyngeal teeth rounded, curved 

 and pointed at their extremities, 4, 2/2, 4. Colours olive along the upper 

 portions of the head and back, becoming silvery on the sides and beneath. Upper 

 portion of body with numerous irregular brown spots and dark edgings to the 

 scales, and in the young a row of dark spots cross the lateral-line ; but in large 

 specimens a wide silvery band runs along the side of the body mostly above the 

 lateral-line : a dark mark under the eye and a few black spots in the pectoral 

 region. Dorsal fin with several irregular rows of black spots, and similar ones 

 exist on the lobes of the caudal fin most distinct externally. Young examples are 

 darker than adults and more blotched and spotted : a line of spots runs across the 

 anal fin while the ventral is dark tipped : opercle nearly black. 



Names. " Gudgeon " is a corruption of the French term Goujon. As gudgeons 

 are an easy prey to even the most inexperienced angler, the common expression 

 "to gudgeon a man" is said to have its origin from this cause. Gogeon (Diet. 

 1593), googen (Diet. 1608). Blcege, Anglo-Saxon. Crothell, Welsh. The word 

 gudgeon is often used synonymously with "an untruth," or for a joke or taunt. 

 " To swallow a gudgeon " is often employed for being made a fool of: "to gape 

 for gudgeons " to mean to look out for impossibilities. An old term was river 

 smelt. Be Gmndel, Dutch. Le Goujon, French. 



Habits. A small, gregarious river fish, selecting places where the current is 

 not too strong and the bottom is sandy or gravelly : or else a pond through which 

 a stream flows, while it keeps near the bottom : generally during the day-time the 

 gudgeon seeks the shade becoming more active towards nightfall. During the 

 warm months found in or near shallows but returning to the deeper water 

 in winter. In some years plentiful, in others just the reverse. It will live 

 in very polluted water, even at the mouths of drains, localities in which the more 

 cleanly fish, as trout, would inevitably succumb. In Aquaria it is fond of reposing 

 motionless for hours in one place. While it thrives, observes Newman, on the 

 impurities of London water alone. It eats worms, insects, small fry, ova, and some 

 plants, but is a capricious feeder, subject apparently to some atmospheric influences. 

 Fishmongers are able to keep them alive for some weeks in stone or leaden- 

 lined tanks, provided there is a good supply of cold water. Mr. Gosden, of 

 Exeter, recorded having found one of these fish 7% inches in length among some 

 herrings taken at Cloverley, which would seem to show that stragglers may 

 occasionally descend to salt water. 



M. Valenciennes subjected some of these fish to the following experiment. 

 He placed them in water below the bell of an air-pump, and gradually reduced 

 the aerial pressure. When this was diminished to half or a quarter the fish 

 suffered little, and few air-bubbles escaped. When the reduction of pressure 

 was rapid and carried far, many bubbles escaped ; and when the mercury stood 

 very low, the gas in their inside expanded, the belly became blown, and the fish 

 floated on the surface, its back being downwards. Such examples were found to 

 have the air-bladder quite empty. They continued to live, and when replaced in 

 water at the ordinary atmospheric pressure, they resumed their normal position 

 after about twenty-four hours, but remained quiet at the bottom, with the 

 abdomen quite hollow. Slowly their original form and bulk returned, and in 

 six hours their air-bladder was again filled, the contents of which, on being 

 tested, were found to be azote. 



Means of capture. Although the gudgeon bites all day from the end of March 

 until Michaelmas, the months considered best for this species of fishing are 

 during August, September, October, and sometimes the commencement of 



