THE TENCH. 55 



The mediciners have dabbled with the carp, as well as 

 with most other fish. His fat has been used as a molli- 

 fying unguent to soothe the nerves, when suffering under 

 what is termed " hot-rheumatism." His gall has been 

 applied as a liniment for sore eyes. A small triangular 

 stone, supposed to be discernible in the jaws of the carp, 

 is said to act as a styptic when ground to a fine powder; 

 and has been found efficacious in bleedings at the nose. 

 And "above the eyes," says an old physician, "two 

 little bones exist, semicircular in shape, which are dili- 

 gently preserved by noble females against the lunatical 

 disease." All this seems sufficiently absurd ; but the age 

 which swallows Parr's pills, and pins its faith on the cold- 

 water system, is scarcely in a condition to laugh at it. 



The carp is an excellent fish when satisfactorily cooked ; 

 for accomplishing which, almost any cookery book will 

 furnish a tolerable receipt. The soft-roed fish are much 

 sought after by epicures as a delicate dish; and indeed, 

 some writers attribute to them the property of restoring 

 consumptive persons to perfect health. 



Ha 



The TENCH is a handsome thick fish, of a greenish- 

 yellow colour, with a peculiarly greasy slippery skin. 

 His form and appearance give one the idea of great rich- 

 ness and delicacy ; and indeed, when properly cooked, he 

 is really a very delicious fish. 



Tench are found in nearly all parts of Europe, but only 

 in lakes, marais, ponds, and weedy rivers, where there is 

 little or no current. They prefer stagnant muddy waters 

 to any other; and during the severity of the winter, like 

 eels, they bury themselves in the mud. In the hot days 

 of summer and autumn, they are to be seen basking and 



