104 PAPERS, ETC. 
British Fishes;” and the nervous system of these append- 
ages, and other interesting and animated remarks on the 
fish, are given by Mr. Couch, in his “ Cornish Fauna.” 
The WRASSES are not numerous on our coast at any 
time. A few occur in May and June. 
The BALLAn WRASsSE is subject to great variation of 
colour, from a plain dull green, to a bright blue green, 
reticulated with vermillion and orange, and sometimes a 
rich red-brown, marked with blue and green. 
The females have been described as plain in colour ; 
but I have seen them of bright and varied colours, when 
full of roe. They are sometimes taken with mature ova in 
February, and in March without ova. 
The CArPp, eight or nine pounds in weight, is sometimes 
taken in the clay-pits near Bridgwater, and from the cul- 
verts under the Taunton and Bridgwater canal. 
The Crusıan CARP has been taken in the Parret. 
The TencH is abundant and fine in most of the slow 
drains of the marshes, and in large ponds. It is generally 
full of roe in June. 
The Roach flourishes in purer water. It is abundant 
in fresh water rivers and canals. The Argulus fohacius, 
a very interesting parasite, is often found on this fish. 
The BLEAK is not common in the western part of the 
county. 
The Mınnow is plentiful in many of our brooks and 
rivers. I have found it in the tide-water of the Parret. 
The Jack, or PIKE, formerly abounded in the upper 
parts of the Parret, and in the large drains of the county, 
but not so now ; still it affords sport to anglers in the 
Avon and some other of our rivers. 
The SeA-PıkE sometimes occurs in the Parret, nearly 
up to Bridgwater. It is often taken on our coast in 
summer. 
