326 THE PRACTICAL FISHERMAN. 



subjected to a microscopical scrutiny by Miiller, the very common cyclops 

 quadricornis was always present. Small coleopterous insects and the 

 remains of worms were also determined at different times. Altogether, 

 the conclusion may fitly be stated that the food is composed entirely of 

 such minute crustaceans and larvse as may be present in the water. 

 Certainly, this investigation presents no great obstacle in the way 

 of finding a suitable bait for its capture. 



Dr. Knox also found that occasionally, as is the case with perch and 

 other tribes, the females were more numerous than the males. Indeed, 

 out of forty individuals, only two, on examination, turned out to be 

 members of the rougher sex. On another occasion, however, the dispro- 

 portion appeared very much reduced, proving that the fact was but indi- 

 cative of some special habit of the fish, instead of showing an actual dis- 

 proportion in the existing number of each sex. 



Couch, who probably had a better chance than Yarrell of examining 

 in detail these fish, gives a full description of one which was 6in. 

 long. If the figure of the fish given by him in his work is a close like- 

 ness, it certainly is more roach-like in its proportions than those in the 

 work by Yarrell and that by Mr. Pennell these two are identical, be it 

 said, the same blocks having been used. In any case, this is the de- 

 scription : Length G^in., which is about the usual dimensions ; depth in 

 front of the dorsal fin, If in., the outline rising from the front to the first 

 ray of that fin ; the body compressed, covered with scales of moderate 

 size not easily detached ; under jaw projecting ; mystache broad, slightly 

 bent, reaching halfway to the eye, gape very moveable. Eye large and 

 prominent. Teeth : none in the jaws, minute on the tongue. Dorsal 

 fin opposite the ventrals with eleven rays, as are also the ventrals, the 

 two last from one root ; pectorals free of the gill cover, reaching a little 

 more than halfway to the ventrals, with fourteen rays ; in the ventrals 

 ten rays ; adipose fin opposite the termination of the anal, and conse- 

 quently not far from the tail. Tail broadly forked, with twenty rays. 

 Colour of the back brown, the sides tinged with yellow, above the hind- 

 most part of the eye golden, faint lines of yellow along the sides, but 

 over the whole, and on the cheeks, a brilliant white. Yarrell says that 

 the dorsal fin and upper parts of the side are a fine green. There are 

 sixty-eight mucous pores in the lateral line. 



