70 



LOACH. 



it when intentionally concealed from the mere influence of 

 sight and feeling. 



But it is for the most part only by daylight that the Loach 

 reclines listlessly at the bottom, concealed or in an apparently 

 waiting posture; for it is a nocturnal fish, and when darkness 

 has concealed its movements, it assumes habits of active energy, 

 whether in seeking its prey or escaping enemies; and of the 

 approach of the latter, or the feeling of any unusual motion, 

 its instinctive watchfulness presently puts it on its guard. When 

 kept in a tank its boisterous attempts to extend its rambles 

 have been so powerful and persevering as to be heard far off, 

 and have caused it to throw itself over the wall of its prison; 

 and this is especially the case at the approach of or during 

 remarkable changes of wind and weather. Nor ought this 

 sensibility to atmosj)heric changes excite surprise ; since, besides 

 the experience of anglers in the river, fishermen on the ocean 

 know that at considerable depths many sorts of fish are quickly 

 sensible of the same influence, as dis]>layed in their motions of 

 activity and ajDpetite; and it is only in the sui^position of the 

 sensition excited in them by electric changes in the atmosphere 

 that this can be accounted for. This fish is also observed to 

 ascend from the bottom to the surface, and again to descend 

 many times in succession; and on these occasions it is probable 

 that it takes in and swallows portions of air; not, however, into 

 its diminutive air-bladder, but into its stomach; from which it 

 passes through the bowel to be discharged in the form of 

 carbonic gas; in which proceeding it has been remarked that 

 the intestine appears to perform a function which in creatures 

 of the land is more particularly the duty of the lungs. 



The Loach will take a bait, and notwithstanding its small 

 size it has been pronounced delicious food; so that for the use 

 of the table in some parts of Europe it is carried to market 

 alive. And connected with this, as already, in sj^eaking of the 

 Barbel, we have referred to a practice in remote times of eating 

 it uncooked; in some parts of our own country a great stretch 

 of this morbid apj)etite is said to be sometimes indulged in, by 

 swallowing the Loach while still alive. But when this sort of 

 mistaken craving is indulged in, the devourer should at least 

 be cautioned to observe the advice of E-ondeletius, in not 

 mistaking the Armed Loach, next to be described, for the 



