THE LOACll,*&C. 77 



COBITES FLUriATlLIS BARBATULJy 



The Loach or Loc]it\ this fish is very small, 

 but eats \evy well, and is iioiuishiiig food for 

 sick persons. 



The loach is the first sronius of ahdominal 



Jishes, or those which have the ventral tins behind 



the pectoral, that is, nearer the tail, as in the 



salmon. It never exceeds four inches in lengtii. 



IJe is found in clear swift brooks and rivu- 

 lets, and his food is gravel. He is bearded like 

 ihe barbel, and freckled with black and white- 

 spots. You may take him with a red-u'onir, at 

 ground ; he dcligiits to be near the gravel, there- 

 tore is hardly ever seen on the top of the water. 



The smallest of liooks. 



GOBIO FLUVIATILISy 



The BuIi-Iiead,oi' Miller s-'Jiumb; this fish, on 

 account of its ugliness, is in some places called 

 the f rasli-watex devil \ lie has a broad head and a 

 large mouth, no teetli, but his lips are like a file, 

 with which he nibles at the bait. Tl.ey spawn 

 in April, and are full of spawn most of the sum- 

 mer. I'heir haunts in summer -are chicfiy in 

 holes, or amongst stones in clear-water ; but in 

 winter they lie in the mud like the eel. The 

 worst of anglers may take this fi^h ; for if you 

 look above the water in a iiot day, you mav see 

 him sunning himself on a fiat stone, put your 

 hook upon it, baited uith a small red-zcorm, and 

 he will take it directly. The tase of this ti^h i^ 

 very good. 



fiook, No. 13. 



H 3 



