102 BRITISH FISH AND FISHERIES. 



slime and dirt, in pure water, to the bottom of 

 which the pigment was in a short time preci- 

 pitated. 



In some of the streams of Lancashire, a fish 

 called the azurine, or blue roach, (Leiiciscus 

 ccerideiis, Yarrell,) occurs, though perhaps not 

 abundantly. It was first described as a new 

 species by Mr. YarreU, in the Linn. Trans., vol. 

 xvii. part 1, p. 8, having been previously 

 unknown either to British or continental natu- 

 ralists, though we believe that, with the grain- 

 ing, it inhabits some of the Swiss lakes. 



It seldom weighs more than ten or twelve 

 ounces, rarely a pound. Its general colour is 

 glossy slate blue, passing into sUvery white 

 beneath ; fins white. 



In all our clear streams, brooks, and rivers, 

 the minnow or pink, (Leiiciscm phoxinus,) 

 abounds in shoals, roving about in quest of food, 

 now appearing in the shallows, now seeking the 

 deeper parts, and anon scattering asunder, as 

 some pike, trout, or perch, intent on prey, 

 strikes the phalanx with panic. We have often 

 watched their movements, and have frequently 

 seen them in compact array encircle various 

 objects, as a large worm or dead fish, on which 

 they have continued to feed until disturbed on 

 purpose ; we have seen them, too, when scat- 



