The Minnow. 485 



each. A place conveniently situated for the fishing is 

 baited with grain, or other coarse food, for ten days or 

 a fortnight regularly, after which great sport is usually 

 obtained. The party frequently catch several hundred- 

 weight, which are distributed among the poor of the vici- 

 nity, who split and dry them with great care, to eat with 

 their potatoes. 



THE MINKOW. (Cyprinus pJwxinus.) 



THE body of the Minnow is of a blackish green, with 

 blue and yellow variegations ; the abdomen silvery ; 

 scales small ; ten rays in the ventral, anal, and dorsal 

 fins ; tail forked, and marked near the base with a dusky 

 spot. Its length is about three inches. 



This beautiful and well-known fish is gregarious, and 

 is frequent in clear gravelly streams and rivulets in many 

 parts of Europe. In Britain it appears in March, and is 

 seldom seen after October. It spawns in June, and is, 

 indeed, found in roe during the greater part of the 

 summer. It is easily tamed ; and, in captivity, may be 

 taught to pick flies or filaments of beef from the hand. 



The flesh of the Minnow is extremely delicate, but 

 the fish is so small that it would take a great number 

 to make a dish, and consequently it is seldom used for 

 human food. Its chief value is as a bait for catching 

 other fish. In some parts of England it is so abundant 

 as sometimes to be used as manure. 



