CHAP, xviii. THE FIFTH DAY. 161 



of the smaller four-footed creatures of the earth do; and as 

 those, so these, come quickly to their full growth and perfection. 

 And it is needful that they breed both often and numerously, 

 for they be, besides other accidents of ruin, both a prey and 

 baits for other fish. And first, I shall tell you of the MINNOW 

 or PENK. 



The minnow hath, when he is in perfect season, and not sick, 

 which is only presently after spawning, a kind of dappled or 

 waved colour, like to a panther, on his sides, inclining to a 

 greenish and sky-colour, his belly being milk-white, and his 

 back almost black or blackish. He is a sharp biter at a small 

 worm, and in hot weather makes excellent sport for young 

 anglers, or boys, or women that love that recreation, and in the 

 spring they make of them excellent minnow-tansies ; for being 

 washed well in salt, and their heads and tails cut off, and their 

 guts taken out, and not washed after, they prove excellent for 

 that use ; that is, being fried with yolks of eggs, the flowers of 

 cowslips, and of primroses, and a little tansy; thus used they 

 make a dainty dish of meat. 



The LOACH is, as I told you, a most dainty fish ; he breeds 

 and feeds in little and clear swift brooks or rills, and lives there 

 upon the gravel, and in the sharpest streams : he grows not to 

 be above a finger long, and no thicker than is suitable to that 

 length. This loach is not unlike the shape of the eel; he has a 

 beard or wattles like a barbel. He has two fins at his sides, 

 four at his belly, and one at his tail ; he is dappled with many 

 black or brown spots, his mouth is barbel-like under his nose. 

 This fish is usually full of eggs or spawn ; and is by Gesner, 

 and other learned physicians, commended for great nourish- 

 ment, and to be very grateful both to the palate and stomach of 

 sick persons : he is to be fished for with a very small worm at 

 the bottom, for he very seldom or never rises above the gravel, 

 on which I told you he usually gets his living. 



The MILLER'S THUMB, or Bull-head, is a fish of no pleasing 

 shape. 



He is by Gesner compared to the sea-toad-fish, for his simili- 

 tude and shape. It has a head big and flat, much greater 



