66 MALA COP. ABDOM. CARP FAMILY. 



lakes and canals. It occurs in the Regent's Canal,"^ 

 and the jMole and Medway are celebrated for their 

 Bream. The Lakes of Cumberland sometimes pro- 

 duce it ; and in those of Ireland it has been known 

 to attain a weight of from twelve to fourteen 

 pounds. In Scotland it is but little known, Loch- 

 maben being its only recorded habitat. Breams 

 swim in shoals, feed on vegetables and soft animal 

 food, are hardy, and grow rapidly. They spawn in 

 May, when the females are frequently followed by 

 three or four males. At this time the scales are 

 covered with what Mr. Pennant calls minute white 

 tubercles, which causes them to feel rough to the 

 hand, which, according to Mr. Yarrell, is nothing 

 more than " a periodical assumption which, as in 

 the other Cyprinidas, disappears when the season of 

 reproduction is past." 



The value of this fish as an article of food haSj 

 like the preceding, been differently stated, and pro- 

 bably from the same causes. In these countries it 

 is held in little estimation for the table, and when 

 cultivated at all, it is chiefly to supply food to other 

 fishes. On the Continent the very reverse is the 

 case. I. Walton quotes with approbation the French 

 proverb, " He that has Breams in his pond, may 

 bid his friend welcome ;" and we reUd in the Regne 

 Animal, C'est un assez hon poisson^ fort ahondant^ et 

 qiion multi'plie aisement. Walton's instructions for 

 angling for this fish are minute and copious, ad- 

 vising a careful study of the selected spot, an abun- 

 dant supply of ground bait, and a visit with fitted 



