BRITISH FRESH- WATER FISHES 



the upper parts, with golden, or silvery, on sides and 

 underneath. On various parts of the body, and also on 

 the fins, there are dark spots. It does not attain a greater 

 length than 6 to 8 inches. It is a common inhabitant 

 of many of our rivers and streams, but is not known 

 beyond the northern border of England. I have known 

 shoals of Gudgeon to haunt a particular spot in a certain 

 river for over forty years, and force of habit makes me 

 look to see if any of the little fellows are in the old spot 

 whenever I chance to pass that way. I am rarely dis- 

 appointed. It is by no means an active species, and 



seems to take life very quietly. It feeds upon various 



kinds of aquatic life, and in searching for same displays 



similar habits to its larger first-cousin, the Barbel. As 



in the latter, the male Gudgeon has tubercles on the head 



during the breeding season, and this latter may last 



over a period of several weeks, commencing in April 



or May. The eggs are laid in little groups among the 



stones forming the gravel bed of the stream. The 



curious name comes from the Latin word Gobionem, but 



is indirectly derived from a French word — Goiijon, 



which has become Anglicised into=Gudgeon. 

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