RIVER GARDENS; 



these little fish swimming about the Aquarium, in 

 company, produce a pleasing effect. 



The Miller 's-thumb, or Bull-head, would form 

 a curious and interesting object in the Aquarium, 

 but that he has the habit of concealing himself 

 under stones or any other shelter he can find. In 

 Switzerland children watch for them and spear 

 them as they attempt to dart from the shelter of 

 one stone to that of another. It is considered deli- 

 cate food in Italy, as we are told by E/osso ; and in 

 Russia it is used as a charm against fever. 



The Minnow, Leuciscus phoxinus (Plate IV., Nos. 

 5 and 6), is one of the very smallest of British fish, 

 but he is a very elegant little fellow. His motions, 

 are sprightly and agile in the extreme, and when 

 the sun shines upon the tank in which he is placed, 

 the fresh olive-green of his back shading to silvery 

 white beneath, has a very glittering effect as he 

 darts playfully about. In summer the white por- 

 tion of the body is delicately tinted with rose 

 colour, which has doubtless given to him one of his 

 popular names, the Pink. The name Minnow, 

 however, or, more correctly, Minim, is no doubt 

 derived from the Latin word minimus, as he is, in 

 fact, one of our smallest fresh-water fishes. But 

 there is one native genus of still smaller dimensions, 



