130 



LOACH. 



Ahdominales Malacopterygii. AcanthoimdcE. 



Local names: Beardie, Bearded Loach, Loche, Groundling, Lee 

 Jjoach, Spined Loche, Ground Gudgeon, Loach, Loch Loche- 

 Stone Loach, Tommy Loach, Tommy Loych, Tommy Lurcher, 

 French: Loche, Tranche . German: Steinheisser, Schmerlein, 

 GrundUng. Italian : Barhatello. 



It is not uncommon in our rivers and brooks. From 

 its slimy smoothness and activity it is' very'difficult to 



LOACH. 



catcli. We Winchester boys used to spear this fish 

 on the Itchen with an ordinary fork tied on to the end 

 of a stick, and then pickle him with the minnows. It 

 forms an excellent bait for eels, and Mr. Thames Trout 

 will sometimes take him, if he is properly and artisti- 

 cally spun. 



The loach is a veritable hermit ; he lives in brooks 

 and smaU streams, and always under the stones. If 

 the loach risks the end of his nose beyond his hiding- 

 place, it is only immediately to go back again, or to 

 seek another place. The loach is j)robably nocturnal 

 in its habits. He grows to be about as big as a 

 gudgeon. He is very quick in his movements when 

 frightened, and lives probably on little insects and 

 other creatures found among the moss and weeds 

 of the brooks. Their great enemy is probably eels. 



