3 6o TENCH. Class IV. 



The Tench he fpares a medicinal kind : 



For when by wounds diftreft, or fore difeafe. 



He courts the falutary fifh for eafe ; 



Clofe to his fcales the kind phyfician glides, 



And fweats a healing balfam from his fides *. 



Whatever virtue its flime may have to the in- 

 habitants of the water, we will not vouch for, but 

 its flefh is a wholefome and delicious food to thofe 

 of the earth. The Germans are of a different opi- 

 nion. By way of contempt, they call it Shoemaker. 

 Gefner even fays, that it is infipid and ( unwhole- 

 fome. 



It does not commonly exceed four or five pounds 

 in weight, but we have heard of one that weighed 

 ten pounds ; Salvianus fpeaks of fome that arrived 

 at twenty pounds. 



They love ftill waters, and are rarely found ini 

 rivers : they are very fooli(h, and eafily caught. 

 D£scrip. The tench is thick and fhort in proportion to 

 its length : the fcales are very fmall, and covered 

 with dime. 



The irides are red : there is fometimes, but not 

 always, a fmall beard at each corner of the mouth. 



The color of the back is dufky ; the dorfal and 

 ventral fins of the fame color : the head, fides, and 

 belly, of a greenilh call:, moil: beautifully mixed 

 with gold, which is in its greateft fplendor when 

 the fifh is in the highefl feafon. 



* Ed. II. 



The 



