178 THE FRESH-WATER FISHES OF EUROPE. 



many kinds of entozoa. They eat their own dead, and old Hsh eat young ones. 

 Minnows prefer clear flowing water with a gravelly or sandy bottom, but are 

 found also by grassy banks and places which it would be impossible for other 

 fishes to reach. They are very shy, and disappear at the least noise, but have 

 some enterprise and are very curious. They skim about in large swarms at the 

 top of the water, and are often found in long processions travelling in search of 

 food. In hot weather they ascend the tributaries of rivers, leaping over obstacles 

 wherever the leader takes them. They thus extend from the Danube into the 

 Traun Sea. In autumn they retire into deeper water, hiding under roots of 

 trees or under stones, where they live with Gudgeon. Probably, every person 

 who has ever looked into a small stream, has been surprised by the singular 

 way in which minnows constantly arrange themselves in circles like the petals of 

 a flower, with their heads nearly meeting in the centre, and tails diverging at 

 equal distances. The Minnow is of sociable habit, and is found swimming with 

 the Trout and many other species, and when swimming in isolation it is usually 

 in positions which are not easily accessible to larger fishes. Fatio says : " I 

 have often taken a large number of Minnows in a few minutes, with a single 

 sweep of a butterfly net held in the stream. Attracted by the novelty, the 

 curious little things come to look at the strange object, and, seeing a large 

 opening, approach nearer and nearer to explore it. The most adventurous 

 enter, and all the band follow to study the secrets and discover the riches of 

 the treacherous cavity. By gently lifting the net it may sometimes be taken 

 up a quarter full of Minnows." 



Formerly Minnows were valued as food. Dr. Giinther mentions that they 

 are well-flavoured, but nowhere are they recorded as important in diet, probably 

 on account of the shyness of the fish, and small size, as well as the bitter flavour 

 imparted by the gall-bladder, which needs to be carefully removed. When 

 plentiful, they are eaten in North Germany. In earlier ages, however, the 

 Minnow was a royal dish; and when William of Wykeham entertained 

 Richard II. and his Queen, in 1394, among other fishes served at table were 

 seven gallons of Minnows. We have no particulars as to the method of cooking, 

 but Frank Buckland states that they are very good simply fried as whitebait. 



At Danzig a variety occurs in the stagnant waters of low-lying districts, 

 which has the sides brassy-yellow, and the back darker, with fine black spots. 

 Sometimes the entire fish is covered with elevated black spots, which, according 

 to Fatio, are due to a skin parasite. 



In Russia it is found in all swift mountain rivers and brooks, and often 

 occurs in great quantities; it is recorded in all European countries, from 

 Norway to Italy, with the exception of the Spanish peninsula. It is found 

 in the Alps almost up to the limit of the snow line. 



