TENCH. 



59 



TENCH. 



THE Tench appears to be a native of most 

 parts of the globe, inhabiting chiefly large stag- 

 nant waters with a muddy bottom ; it is seldom 

 to be found in rivers. Its general length is a- 

 bout twelve or fourteen inches, but, like most 

 other fish, it is occasionally found of far greater 

 magnitude. Its usual colour is a deep blackish 

 olive, accompanied by a slight gilded cast ; the 

 fins, which are thick, are of a dull violet colour ; 

 it sometimes varies considerably in the tinge of 

 its colour according to the situation in which it 

 resides. The shape of this fish is thick, and 

 the skin is covered, like that of an Eel, with an 

 adhesive mucus, or slime, beneath which ap- 



