BRITISH FRESH-WATER FISHES 



which always resorted to a certain spot overhung by 



bushes in a backwater of the River Colne at Bricket 



Wood, Hertfordshire, but never succeeded in catching 



one of those wary monsters. It responds to the art of 



the fly-fisherman, and is also caught with lob-worm, or 



greaves and paste. It is a hardy customer to deal with 



even when securely hooked, but " its dogged that does 



it," as Charles Darwin used to say, and the fish is soon 



overpowered. It feeds upon other fishes, as well as 



insects, shrimps, worms, and weeds. The eggs are 



deposited from Spring to early Summer, and the antics 



of the parent fish whilst engaged in the propagation of 



their species are most entertaining to watch, as they 



leap out of the water and add a touch of animation to the 



environment. The males have small tubercles on the 



head during the breeding season, and the scales are 



rougher than at other times. 



Minnow. — Phoxinus aphya (Fig. 49). This gay little 



species, active and beautiful withal, is a prime favourite 



dating from boyhood days. One thinks straight away of 



quiet stretches of the River Colne on a hot day in June. 



Standing on the old wooden bridge and peering into the 



clear stream beneath, a shoal of Minnows were always 



to be seen disporting themselves, and very engaging they 



were as one watched them at both work and play. Of 



voracious disposition, I often used to catch these silvery 



little tenants of the Colne by using a maggot, or caddis 



worm, as bait. So eager were the fish for the fray, that 



I have often hooked them other than in the mouth. 

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