82 MALACOP. ABDOM. CARP FAMILY. 



little fish, in relation both to the varying colours it 

 assumes and the parasitic fungi to which it some- 

 times becomes the victim (Vol. I. pp. 80, 85, and 

 89). It is common on the continent of Europe, in 

 England, and the southern parts of Scotland ; Dr. 

 Parnell remarking that it does not seem to exist in 

 the northern parts of the country, as not a single 

 specimen was observed by the party of Naturalists 

 who lately visited the difi'erent lakes and rivers in 

 Sutherlandshire. It is, however, found in some of 

 the tributaries of the Dee, becoming more plentiful 

 as we advance southwards. It inhabits all the 

 rivers entering the Forth, among others the Water 

 of Leith, and is very common around Edinburgh. 

 Besides rivers, it also frequents brooks, canals, and 

 ditches, preferring generally gravelly bottoms, and 

 swimming in shoals in trouting streams. It usually 

 makes its appearance in March and disappears in 

 October, seeming to delight in warmth and sunshine. 

 The winter months appear to be passed under the 

 sheltering banks, or buried beneath the gravel. Its 

 habits are active and amusing. A gentleman on 

 one occasion, crossing a brook, saw from a foot- 

 bridge, something like a flower, near the bottom. 

 Observing it attentively, he remarks, I found that 

 it consisted of a circular assemblage of minows, their 

 heads all meeting in the centre, and their tails di- 

 verging at equal distances. One was larger than 

 the rest, and when any straggler came in sight, he 

 quitted his place in pursuit, and having driven it 

 away, returned to his place, no other minnow offer- 



