70 



believe it is the only fish, which even when feeding on surface insects, always lies 

 at the bottom of the water. The beautiful hues of the mackerel, when first taken, 

 scarcely exceed those of " the flower of fishes, " as St. Ambrose is said to have called 

 the grayling. Its green, blue, copper, and golden shades, as seen in different 

 lights, combined with the most symmetrical shape, establish it pre-eminent in 

 beauty over all the fresh water fishes ; and it is peculiarly grateful to the epicure, 

 net less than to the sportsman. 



The herring genus affords us two specimens— the twaite shad and the alice 

 shad (clupeidffi). These fish were long considered the parents of the celebrated 

 whitebait. Mr. Yarrell has satisfactorily disproved this, both from a comparison 

 of their habits, and anatomically. There is a great distinction between these two 

 species ; the twaite shad has teeth, and several dark spots along the side behind 

 the gill-covers ; whereas the alice shad has no teeth, and only one spot on the 

 side. The latter, too, is a good fish on the table, the twaite valueless. They enter 

 our rivers in May, seeking fresh water for the purpose of depositing their spawn. 



The next family I shall mention should, in point of numbers, if not of excel- 

 lence, head the list of British fresh-water fishes— the carps (cyprinidse). Of this 

 genus, we have nineteen species in England ; at least nine of which are found in 

 this county. For the most part it is a toothless race — presuming the mouth to 

 be the appropriate organ for teeth. Yet teeth they have — and strong ones too — 

 but they are situated in the pharynx, the upper part of the gullet. 



I believe it has never been distinctly ascertained whence this fish was first 

 imported ; but it is generally understood to have been from the southern parts of 

 Europe. Ichthyologists give the name of cyprinus to this fish ; probably from 

 that designation having been bestowed by the ancients on a fish supposed to be 

 identical with the carp. Cassiodorus is the oldest author who uses the word 

 carpa. He lived in the sixth century ; and where speaking of the most costly 

 fish, which then appeared on the tables of princes, says, ' ' among these is the 

 carpa, which is produced in the Danube. " It is probable, therefore, that we have 

 to thank the Danube for its introduction into England. When that introduction 

 took place does not seem quite clear. According to Anderson's "History of Com- 

 merce," they were first brought into England in 1514. But it is perfectly certain 

 they were in this kingdom before 148U ; for in that year was published, perhaps 

 the only work on angling ever written by a lady. Dame Juliana Berner's "Book of 

 St. Albans." She says, speaking of the carp, " It is a dayntious fyshe ; but there 

 ben but few in Engloude, and therefore I write the lesse of hym." She however 

 observes, " he is an envy 11 fisshe to take, and there maye noe weke harnays hold 

 hym." 



The great carp countries now are Austria and Prussia. In the latter I have 

 seen many specimens weighing from sixteen to eighteen pounds each. They thrive 

 well here, but seldom attain the size just quoted. There is a painting of one, 

 however, at Weston Hall, Staffordshire, which weighed nineteen and a half 

 pounds. They are probably the most productive of fresh-water fishes ; Bloch 

 having, be says, found (>0O,O0O eggs in a carp of nine pounds. Though still held 



