THE FIFTH DAY continued 



Of the Minnow, or Penk ; Loach; Bull- 

 Head, or Millers-Thumb : and the 

 Stickle-bag 



CHAPTER XVIII 



PISCATOR AND VENATOR 



PlSCATOR. There be also three or four other little 

 fish that I had almost forgot ; that are all without 

 scales; and may for excellency of meat, be com- 

 pared to any fish of greatest value and largest 

 size. They be usually full of eggs or spawn, all the 

 months of summer ; for they breed often, as 'tis 

 observed mice and many of the smaller four-footed 

 creatures of the earth do ; and as those, so these 

 come quickly to their full growth and perfection. 

 And it is needful that they breed both often and 

 numerously ; for they be, besides other accidents of 

 ruin, both a prey and baits for other fish. And 

 first I shall tell you of the Minnow or Penk. 



The MINNOW hath, when he is in perfect season, 

 and not sick, which is only presently after spawning, 

 a kind of dappled or waved colour, like to a panther, 

 on its sides, inclining to a greenish or sky-colour ; 

 his belly being milk white; and his back almost 

 black or blackish. He is a sharp biter at a small 

 190 



