OE, THE HOME-CULTURE OF FRESH- WATER PLANTS. 



becomes restless ; and its popular name, Loach, or 

 Loche, is derived from the Erench verb looker, to 

 be uneasy. A continental species, the lake Loche, 

 is in an old naturalist's miscellany termed the Ther- 

 mometrum vivum ; and it is certain that they are ex- 

 tremely sensitive to atmospheric changes, as thunder 

 frequently kills them. The Loach is not altogether 

 solitary in this extreme sensitiveness to change of 

 weather, for the Gold Carp frequently die in large 

 numbers during thunder-storms ; and Lobsters, as 

 Pennant tells us, sometimes cast their claws at a 

 loud clap of thunder. It has also been observed that 

 the high swimming fish are less affected by electric 

 changes than those that swim near the bottom. 

 The Loach, considered by us as an utterly insig- 

 nificant fish, is considered a choice table delicacy in 

 Sweden, where it was naturalized by Frederic I. 

 as a table delicacy. 



The Gudgeon ( Gobio fluvialis) holds a more con- 

 spicuous place among our smaller native fishes. 

 The tones of purplish green which decorate his 

 back are very pleasing, and, in some individuals, of 

 remarkable richness, and he occasionally attains the 

 length of eight inches, though seldom exceeding 

 four. Three or more should be kept, if any, as they 

 are accustomed to swim in shoals, and a phalanx of 



