FISHES 



The fishes of Leicestershire are those usually found in inland or midland 

 counties, and with the exception of the salmon, which is of accidental occur- 

 rence, would be those found in the adjoining counties, and call for no special 

 introduction. 



TELEOSTEANS 



ACANTHOPTERYGII 



1. Perch. Perca fluvlatllis, Linn. 



Commonly distributed. In the Leicester Museum 

 there is a cast of a specimen taken at Saddington in 

 1885 by Mr. J. Benskin, which weighed just under 

 3 Ib. Mr. J. Smith presented one to the Leicester 

 Museum, taken by Mr. Roche at Aylestone, 17 July, 

 1 886, which weighed 2 Ib. 2 oz. Mr. Keen, the fish- 

 ing tackle-maker of Church-gate, reported a fine perch 

 taken at Wistow, some years ago, by Mr. Blakiston, 

 which turned the scale at 5 Ib. In the early part of 

 1888, Thornton Reservoir, which absolutely swarmed 

 with perch, to the entire destruction of the trout- 

 fishing, was cleaned out and netted, when some fine 

 perch were taken, the late Dr. Macaulay reporting a 

 brace which weighed 9 Ib. ; and Pinchen showed me, 

 amongst others, one from there weighing 3f Ib. I 

 have taken at Thornton Reservoir several specimens 

 with blunt heads or rounded noses, evidently a mal- 

 formation, which appears, however, persistent. 



2. Ruff", dcerina cernua, Linn. 



Locally, Daddy Ruff, Jack Ruff, Pope. 



According to Harley, it occurs in most of our 

 canals and small streams, especially in those which 

 take their rise in Charnwood Forest. It has been 

 taken from the Soar at Aylestone, and occurs in 

 other streams throughout the county. 



3. Miller's Thumb. Cottus gpbio, Linn. 



Locally, Bullhead, Tommy Logge. 

 Commonly distributed. Harley noted it as com- 

 mon in the stream which flows through Bradgate 

 Park. 



ANACANTHINI 



4. Burbot. Lota vulgaris, Cuv. 



Locally, Burbolt, Eel-pout. 



Harley recorded it as ' an irregular and uncertain 

 visitant to the rivers of the county, save the Trent, 

 where it occurs plentifully.' It has been occasionally 



taken in the Soar about Kegworth, and Harley once 

 saw one caught in an eel-net at Zouch Mills, near 

 Loughborough. 



HEMIBRANCHII 



5. Three-spined Stickleback. Gastrosteus aculeatus, 

 Linn. 



Locally, Tiddler, Jack Bannel, Robin, Soldier, 

 Stuttle, Stut, Tittle-bat. 



Commonly distributed. 



6. Four-spined 

 Linn. 



Stickleback. Gastrosteus spinulosus, 



I am enabled to add this to the county fauna, since 

 the publication of my Vertebrate Animals of Leicester- 

 shire and Rutland, on the authority of Mr. H. Butler 

 Johnson, B.A., of St. George's Lodge, Swannington, 

 who tells me that about 1883 he obtained a specimen 

 in a brook at Thringstone. 



7. Nine-spined Stickleback. Gastrosteus fungitius, 



Linn. 



Locally, Tinker. 



Generally distributed, but perhaps not so common 

 as the three-spined Stickleback. 



HAPLOMI 



8. Pike. Esox lucius, Linn. 



Locally, Jack. 



Commonly distributed, attaining a large size in 

 pools such as those of Bosworth and Saddington. In 

 1 8 1 1 Harley saw a brace of pike taken in a pond at 

 Dishley, the property of Mr. March Phillipps, each of 

 which weighed over 25 Ib. Keen told me that, 

 sometime about 1845-50 one of 33 Ib. (which he 

 saw) was netted at Barrow Mill-dam, after having 

 broken through three trammel-nets. I saw a mounted 

 specimen at Bosworth House, which was captured in 

 April, 1869, in Bosworth Pool, and weighed 26 Ib. 

 The Leicester Museum donation-book records, under 



108 



