32 MINNOW. 



scales, the back is of a dusky dark colour, and the 

 belly of a dusky white ; the dorsal fin and tail are of a 

 light brown, waved or spotted with a darker brown, 

 and from the mouth hang two wattles, like those of 

 the carp. 



The gudgeon prefers a sandy or gravelly bottom, 

 gentle streams, and small rivers. It is a gregarious 

 fish, and herds in hundreds together. The Thames, 

 the sea, the New River, and the canals in the neigh- 

 bourhood of London abound with them. In cold 

 weather they lie close together in the warmest and 

 deepest parts, which they do not leave till spring. They 

 spawn two or three times during the year, and are in 

 season from March till October. 



The only proper method of dressing gudgeons is 

 frying them, and that should be done in a large quantity 

 of lard, after having dipped them in batter, or well 

 floured them. 



SECT. XV. THE MINNOW. 



Cyprinus Phoxinus. 



THIS fish is chiefly taken to furnish a bait for trout, 

 pike, perch, and salmon. It is the smallest of the carp 

 species, seldom exceeding three inches in length. It 



