THE GUDGEON. 149 



Two species, the gobio and scorpio. 



fry of that, because the bleak is found in many 

 of the British streams, but the white- bait is only 

 in the Thames. 



THE body of this fish is round ; the head 

 broader than the body, with two little holes be- 

 tween the eyes, one before the other ; the gill- 

 membrane with six spines. 



The principal species of the gudgeon is called 

 the gobio, or river bull-head, which is very com- 

 mon in all our clear brooks ; it lies almost always 

 at the bottom, or under a stone : it deposits its 

 spawn in a hole which it forms among the gravel, 

 and quits it with great reluctance. It feeds on 

 water insects, lledi says that this fish has no air- 

 bladder. It seldom exceeds the length of three 

 inches and a half. The head is large, broad, flat, 

 and thin at its circumference, being well adapted 

 for insinuating itself under stones : on the mid- 

 dle part of the covers of the gills is a small crooked 

 spine, turning inwards. The eyes are very small ; 

 the irides yellow ; the body grows slender to- 

 wards the tail, and is very smooth. The colour 

 of this fish is as disagreeable as its form, being 

 dusky, mixed with a dirty yellow ; the belly 

 whitish. The taste, however, is excellent. 



There is another species called the scorpio, 

 or father-lasher, which is not uncommon on the 

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