94 A BOOK OF THE RUNNING BROOK : 



they help him to his prey far better than mere 

 sight could. The nerves of both the organ of 

 hearing and that of smell are of most acute 

 sensibility, and experiments have proved that a 

 loach will follow its food by the scent, so as to 

 discover it, even when hidden from sight or 

 touch. Loaches are nocturnal fish, which is 

 probably the reason why their sight is less 

 developed than their other senses ; as soon as 

 darkness comes on they become extremely 

 active, in contrast to their utter listlessness by 

 day. 



However, in spite of this listlessness, they will 

 take a bait, and Izaak Walton, who speaks of 

 the loach as " a most dainty dish .... very 

 grateful both to the palate and stomach of sick 

 persons," recommends that he should be " fished 

 for with a very small worm, at the bottom, for 

 he very seldom or never rises above the gravel." 



In some parts of Europe loach are immensely 

 esteemed for the table, and great trouble is 

 taken to transport them to market alive. In 

 connection with this, Couch mentions an un- 

 pleasant habit said to obtain in some parts of 



