BRITISH FRESH-WATER FISHES 
the upper parts, with golden, or silvery, on sides and 
underneath. On various parts of the body, and also on 
the fins, there are dark spots. It does not attain a greater 
length than 6 to 8 inches. It is a common inhabitant 
of many of our rivers and streams, but is not known 
beyond the northern border of England. I have known 
shoals of Gudgeon to haunt a particular spot in a certain 
river for over forty years, and force of habit makes me 
look to see if any of the little fellows are in the old spot 
whenever I chance to pass that way. I am rarely dis- 
appointed. It is by no means an active species, and 
seems to take life very quietly. It feeds upon various 
kinds of aquatic life, and in searching for same displays 
similar habits to its larger first-cousin, the Barbel. As 
in the latter, the male Gudgeon has tubercles on the head 
during the breeding season, and this latter may last 
over a period of several weeks, commencing in April 
or May. The eggs are laid in little groups among the 
stones forming the gravel bed of the stream. The 
curious name comes from the Latin word Gobionem, but 
is indirectly derived from a French word=Goujon, 
which has become Anglicised into=Gudgeon. 
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