52 A BOOK OF THE RUNNING BROOK: 



seems also conducive to adipose tissue, and in 

 such situations tench grow fat and multiply in a 

 manner most edifying to their proprietor. 



Tench are found in most slow-running rivers 

 and ponds in Europe ; and in many places are 

 greatly esteemed for the table. In England 

 they are found in great quantities in Norfolk 

 and Suffolk, and also in the Southern and 

 Midland counties, but further north they gradu- 

 ally diminish. In Scotland they are rare, and the 

 few instances of their presence there have to be 

 accounted for by Yarrell by the fact that the 

 ponds in which they exist are supplied solely by 

 rain-water the hard spring water of Scotland 

 being utterly unsuited to the requirements of 

 tench. However, if rain-water were the only thing 

 wanted for a tench's happiness, it seems strange 

 that he should not thrive under Scotch skies. 



Tench are pretty widely distributed in Ireland , 

 for they are known to exist in ponds in the 

 counties of Cork, Dublin, and Kilkenny. The 

 non-appearance of the tench in the North is 

 probably owing to his dislike of cold. In the 

 winter he generally buries himself in the mud, 



