578 THE TENCH AND THE GUDGEON. 



their liome in such places, and being, in all probability, aided by its 

 barbules in its search after food. 



The Barbel is sometimes so sluggish in its movements, and so deeply 

 occupied in rooting about the bank, that an accomplished swimmer 

 will occasionally dive to the bed of the river, feel for the Barbel along 

 the banks, and bring them to the surface in his bare hand. From this 

 habit of grubbing in the mud the Barbel has earned the name of 

 Fresh-water Pig. 



The color of the Barbel is brown above with a green wash, and 

 yellowish green on the sides. All the scales have a metallic lustre, and 

 the cheeks and gill-covers have also a polished look, as if covered with 



The Gold-fish {Oyprinus auratus). 



very thin bronze. The abdomen is white. The Barbel is somewhat 

 long in proportion to its weight, which is extremely variable, seldom, 

 however, exceeding eleven or twelve pounds. 



The Tench is hardly so common as the other two species, preferring 

 the slowest and muddiest rivers, and thriving well in ponds and lakes, 

 or even in clay-pits. No water, indeed, seems to be too thick, muddy, 

 or even fetid, for the Tench to inhabit, and it is rather curious that in 

 such cases, even where the fishermen could scarcely endure the stench 

 of the mud adhering to their nets, the fish were large-sized and of 

 remarkably sweet flavor. 



In the winter months the Tench is said to bury itself in the mud, 

 and there to remain in a semi-torpid condition until the succeeding 

 spring tails it again to life and action. The color of the Tench is 

 greenish olive, darker above than below, and with a fine golden w^ash. 



The ease with which the Gudgeon is taken has passed into a prov- 

 erb. This pretty little fish is usually found in shallow parts of rivers, 

 where the bottom is gravelly. If the gravel is stirred up, the Gudgeons 



