84 MALACOP. ABDOM. CARP FAMILY. 



(Sp. 115.) C. harhatula. The Loach, Loche, or 

 Beardie. This species will be always readily distin- 

 guished by the snout being furnished with six cirri, 

 and the nose being destitute of spines. The head, 

 body, and sides, are clouded and spotted with brown 

 upon a yellowish white ground ; the under surface 

 is white ; all the fins are spotted with dark brown ; 

 the iris is blue. It is common in Europe, including 

 England and Scotland ; and it has been noticed in 

 the county of Dublin. It prefers streams where the 

 bottom is gravelly and covered with large stones, 

 under which it lurks, and so being often overlooked, 

 it is sometimes considered scarce ; it seldom exceeds 

 four inches in length : it feeds upon worms and 

 aquatic insects, spawns early in spring, and is very 

 prolific. When the rivers become muddy, says Dr. 

 Parnell, and much increased in size by rain, these 

 fish leave the middle of the streams, and seek re- 

 fuge under the banks and small tufts of grass, where 

 they are taken in nets by anglers, and are prized as 

 bait for Trout. They seldom move three inches out 

 of their way to take a bait, however tempting, but 

 seize it with great eagerness when placed before 

 their nose. They are often eaten as a dainty morsel, 

 and by some are said to rival the minnow as food. 

 Tliey are occasionally preserved in the same manner 

 as anchovies, and considered superior both in flavour 

 and richness. On account of the high estimation in 

 which they are held, they are frequently transported 

 some parts of Europe, with considerable trouble, 

 ers they naturally inhabit, to waters 



