Chap. 8. Of the B A R B E L. 197 



CHAP. VIIL 

 Of //^^ B A R B E L. 



TH E Barbel is fo called from tht Latin 

 Word Barba, a Beard, in allufion to the 

 Barb, or Wattels at his Mouth, under his 

 Chaps. He is one of thofe leather-mouthed 

 Fifhes that feldom breaks his Hold if he be 

 once hooked : But then he is fo ftrong, that 

 he will often break both Rod or Line, if he 

 proves to be a large one. But tho* the Bar- 

 bel is of a fine Shape, he is not efteemed the 

 bed Filh to eat, either for WhoUomenefs 01- 

 Taile. The Male, however, is reputed much 

 better than the Female, whofe Spawn is very 

 hurtful. 



Barbeh flock together like Sheep, and are 

 at the worfl in Aprils about which Time they 

 fpawn, but quickly grow again in Seafon. 

 They are able to live in the ftrongeft Swifts of 

 •the Water, and in Summer love the ffial low- 

 eft and fharpeft Streams. They delight to 

 lurk under VVeeds, and to feed on Gravel a- 

 gainft a rifing Ground : They will root and 

 dig in the Sands with their Nofe, like a Swine, 

 and there neft themfelves : Yet fometimes they 

 retire to deep and fwift Bridges, Floodgates, 

 or Weirs, where they will neft themfelves a- 

 mongft Piles, or in hollow Places, and take 

 fuch Hold of Mofs or Weeds, that be the 

 Water never fo fwift, it is not able to force 

 K 3 them 



