THE LOACH. 103 



tered, re-assemble by degrees, and again pro- 

 ceed with their feast. 



The colours of this little fish are exquisitely 

 beautiful, and its movements are prompt and 

 active. Numbers in a short space of time may 

 be readily captured, and a good dish of fried 

 minnows, small as the fish is, is by no means to 

 be despised as a delicacy. 



The minnow breeds in June, and the young 

 by the middle of autumn is about three 

 quarters of an inch in length. The adult fish 

 seldom measures more than three inches 01 

 three and a half. 



Another little tenant of our gravelly streams 

 is the loach, (Cobitis barbatula,) remarkable for 

 its slimy surface, and six barbules on its upper 

 lip. This fish is in the habit of lurking under 

 stones, where it lies perfectly concealed from 

 observation. When disturbed it darts rapidly 

 along, keeping, however, at the bottom of the 

 water, and speedily availing itself of another 

 hiding-place. The flesh of the loach, small as the 

 fish is, (seldom exceeding four inches in length,) 

 is very delicate, and on the continent highly 

 prized. It was on this account that Frederick i., 

 king of Sweden, caused this species to be brought 

 from Germany, and naturalized in his own 

 country. 



