236 FAUNA OF SHROPSHIRE. 



ing powers with other fish, though this is questionable. It 

 is found in many ponds, especially such as have muddy 

 bottoms. 



BREAM. A bright silvery fish with a very deep laterally- 



Abramis brama. compressed body, like " a tin plate set 



on edge." It is found in Berrington, 



Fennymere, Hawkstone, and other pools, as well as in 



the Severn, and usually swims about in shoals. It has 



been also likened to a pair of bellows, and humorously 



stated to possess much the same flavour ! After this it 



need hardly be added that it is very poor eating. 



BLEAK. A small fish, greenish above and silvery white below; 



Alburnus lucidus. not uncommon in the Severn, near 



Shrewsbury, and in certain brooks 

 running into it. Bleak swim in closely packed shoals. 

 The colouring matter of its scales is used in the manu- 

 facture of artificial pearls. 



LOACH. Local name, Stone Loach. A tiny little fish with 



Nemachilus barbatulus. six barbels on the upper jaw. It gets 



its name from the habit of lurking 



under stones, like the Bull-head, and is found in similar 



situations. It dies in a few minutes if taken out of 



water. 



Salmdn. It is a matter of history that this prince amongst 



Salmo salar. fishes was formerly caught in numbers 



in the Severn, close to Shrewsbury, but 



the pollution of the river, and the excessive netting of 



the lower reaches, combined with other changes in the 



channel, has completely altered the state of affairs, and 



now comparatively few fish pass up. The Salmon is 



migratory in its habits ; it ascends rivers to spawn and, 



