374 CYPRINID^. 



in this state tlie larvee of the angler*'s May-fly, and other 

 ephemera, were their greatest enemies, and the diminutive 

 fry seemed to be perfectly aAvare that they owed their safety 

 to concealment ; when exposed they immediately buried 

 themselves again in the gravel. 



The Minnow affords amusement to young anglers, biting 

 readily at a small piece of a red-Avorm : it is principally used 

 as a bait for Pike, Trout, and large Perch. The flesh is 

 considered of good flavour, and when a sufficient quantity 

 can be obtained, for Avhich a small casting-net affords the 

 best chance, they make an excellent fry. 



The terms Minnow and Minim are said to be derived 

 from the Latin minimus^ in reference to the small size of the 

 fish : they are called Pink on account, probably, of the 

 bright red colour that pervades the belly and under parts in 

 summer. 



The length of the head compared to the length of the 

 head and body, without including the caudal rays, is as one 

 to four ; the depth of the body not quite equal to the length 

 of the head ; the body elongated and slender ; the dorsal and 

 ventral outline but slightly convex ; the surface smooth, 

 covered with numerous minute scales ; the lateral line 

 straight from the tail as far as the plane of the origin of the 

 ventral fin, then rising gradually to the upper edge of the 

 operculum. The dorsal fin commences half-way between the 

 anterior edge of the eye and the end of the fleshy portion of 

 the tail : the rays of this fin and those of the anal fin par- 

 take of the character of the rays of the Cyprinidce generally, 

 in the first ray being short, the second the longest of the 

 fin, both simple, all the others articulated and branched. 

 The anal fin commences in a line under the origin of the 

 last dorsal fin-ray ; the tail rather large and forked, the outer 



