160 BRITISH FRESH-WATER FISHES 



known to inhabit European waters. Of the name " loach " 

 no explanation has been received. 



Wherever in Britain there runs a limpid brook over 

 sandy and gravelly shallows, one may expect to find loaches, 

 lurking under stones, much sought after by greater fish, 

 by birds, and even by man, because of the sweetness of 

 their flesh. But you must have quick eyes to detect them, 

 so closely does their mottled skin accord with the ground 

 of their haunts, and nimble fingers to catch them, so slippery 

 are their sides with abundant mucus. 



In appearance the loach is distinguished by its elongated 

 body, nearly cylindrical, measuring in length seven or eight 

 times its height. The head is relatively long and broad ; 

 the eyes are small and set high in the head ; but it is probable 

 that the fish depends less upon these organs in pursuit of 

 its prey than upon six sensitive barbules, delicate instruments 

 of touch, which hang from the upper lip. Above and below 

 the eye is a conspicuous row of mucus channels. The back 

 is olive-green, the sides yellow, and the belly greyish-white, 

 and this ground colour is boldly marbled with very dark 

 brown, which extends over the dorsal and tail fins. The 

 other fins are tinged with yellow. The caudal fin is rather 

 fan-shaped, rounded at the angles and not forked. The 

 skin, except on the head, breast, and abdomen, is covered 

 with exceedingly minute scales, which, however, resemble 

 those of the tench in being separate one from the other 

 not overlapping. 



The loach spawns earlier in the year than other British 

 cyprinoids, breeding in March or early in April. It is a 

 ground feeder, living, it is believed, exclusively on animal 

 diet. People who speak from experience are enthusiastic 

 about the delicacy of its flesh ; but, under ordinary conditions, 

 the labour of collecting a dish of loaches must be out of 

 proportion to its value, for the fish seldom reaches five inches 

 in length, and is more commonly much smaller even than that. 



