310 THE COMPLETE ANGLER. FART I. 



The LOACH is, as I told you, a most dainty fish; 

 he breeds, and feeds, in little and clear swift brooks or 

 rills, arid lives there upon the gravel, and in the 

 sharpest streams : he grows not to be above a finger 

 long, and no thicker than is suitable to that length . This 



ILGACH. 



is not unlike the shape of the Eel : he has a beard 

 or wattles like a Barbel. He has two fins at his sides, 

 four at his belly, and one at his tail; he is dappled 

 with many black or brown spots ; his mouth is, bar- 

 bel-like, under his nose. This fish is, usually, full of 

 eggs or spawn ; and is by Gesner, and other learned 

 physicians, commended for great nourishment, and, 

 to be very grateful both to the palate and stomach 

 of sick persons. He is to be fished for, with a very 

 small worm at the bottom; for he very seldom, or 

 never, rises above the gravel, on which I told you he 

 usually gets his living. 



The MiLLEii's-THUMB, or BULL-HEAD, is a fish of 

 no pleasing shape. He is, by Gesner compared to 

 the Sea-toad-fish, for his similitude and shape. It 

 has a head big and flat, much greater than suitable 

 to his body ; a mouth very wide, and usually gaping ; 

 he is without teeth, but his lips are very rough, much 

 like to a file. He hath two fins near to liis gills, 

 which be roundish or crested; two fins, also, under 



