12 



The moutli of this fist is so formed — the upper lip projecting 

 considerably beyond the lower — that in rising at insects, it is 

 compelled to turn on its back; yet with such celerity is thia 

 movement accomplished, that it formerly received the name of 

 umber, from umhra, a shadow. With the exception of the 

 salmon, I 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, not less than to the 

 sportsman. 



The herring genus afibrds us two specimens — the twaite shad, 

 and the alice shad (clupeidae). These fish were long considered 

 the parents of the celebrated whitebait. Mr. Yarrell has satis- 

 factorily 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 excellence, 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 pharinx — 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 



