15 



but soon after the commencement of tlie rainy season, tlie tanks 

 are replenished, not only with water, but with fish. Though 

 many fantastical reasons are assigned for so strange a phenomenon, 

 the only rational explanation seems to be, that the ova of the 

 former season, remaining dormant during the draught, were 

 hatched on the recurrence of water, though continuing dry for 

 many months. Nature thus playing pioneer for our benefit (if 

 we choose to avail ourselves of it) by shewing us, that, as the 

 impregnated ova may remain long productive, deprived of the 

 element essential to after life, how easy is the transmission of 

 spawn, even from remote countries ; thus making the replenish- 

 ment of our rivers, or the introduction into them of new kinds, a 

 matter of great facility. 



Perhaps the ugliest fish we have, is the bullhead ; but it is said 

 to possess a trait which would redeem the very personification of 

 the hideous — care for its young. Unlike other fishes, it certainly 

 hovers about its spawn for a long time after having deposited it, 

 as if reluctant to abandon it to the mercy of unknown enemies. It 

 is found in most of our streams, but particularly abundant in the 

 Monnow, Dwyr, and their small tributaries. 



The six species of sticklebacks (gasterosteus), contribute three 

 to this county. It is the smallest fish in our waters, and is 

 chiefly remarkable as being the most pugnacious. Each species 

 is furnished with spines on the back, varying in number. These 

 they use, as cattle do their horns ; and an adversary is not unfre- 

 quently killed by them. 



Of the pike genus (esocida;), wo have only one species — the 

 most voracious of fresh- water animals; around whose broad, 

 obtuse muzzle, however, a glory has been thrown by Shakspeare ; 

 who paints the " dozen white lucies " (the heraldic name of the 

 pike), as part of the armorial bearings of the immortal Justice 

 Shallow. 



The pike grows to a larger size than any other of our pure 

 river fishes. I have repeatedly seen them, from the neighbourhood 

 of Neufchatel, in Switzerland, between 25 and 40 pounds. Ges- 

 ner relates it as a fact, that " in 1497, a pike was taken at 



