NATURAL HISTORY. 337 



The dainty gudgeon, roche, the minnow, and the bleak, 

 Since they but little are, I little need to speak." DRAYTON. 



1078. Why has the barbel four wattles, or barbs, on Us 

 lower jaw? 



The barbel, as well as devouring small fish, bores in the loose 

 soil for slugs and worms, and these wattles serve as feelers, in the 

 pursuit of food. 



1079. Why may small fish be seen attending the barbel while 

 it bores in the soil f 



Because they eat the minute animalcules thrown up from 

 the soil by the movements of the barbeL 



1080. Why, when angling for roach, is it necessary to try 

 the water at all depths f 



Because, being miscellaneous feeders, roach swim at various 

 depths ; and, being gregarious, they move in shoals : so that at 

 one level there may be plenty of fish, and at another none 

 at all. 



1081. Why is the bleak commonly called the waier swallow? 



Because it sometimes occupies one part of a river, then takes 

 its departure to another ; the deeps, the shallows, and the surface, 

 are alternately their resorfc ; and they further resemble swallows ia 

 their nimbleness when in pursuit of prey, and particularly in 

 the catching of flies. 



1082. Why has the roach a very small mouth without 

 teeth ? 



The roach limes principally upon insects and fresh-waiter mol- 

 lusca, which it finds adhering to the weeds ; but which it would 

 be unable to obtain were it not for this peculiar structure of 

 the mouth, 



1083. Why does the shanny habitually hide itself behind 

 tiones, rocks, &c. 



Being destitute of a swimming-bladder, this fish is confined te 

 15 



