ABDOMINAL MALACOPTERYGII. 127 



The Barbel, (Barbus* Fulgaris,) noted for the 

 worm-like tentacles about its mouth, and for 

 having the dorsal and anal short, is closely allied 

 to the Carp. It attains a considerable size, one 

 being mentioned which weighed fifteen and a half 

 pounds. According to Walton, however, and other 

 writers, the flesh, and especially the spawn, is un- 

 wholesome. The male and female cover up the 

 spawn with gravel, after it is deposited by the latter. 

 Mr. Jesse says of fishes of different species which 

 were kept in confinement, "the Barbel were the 

 shyest, and seemed most impatient of observation ; 

 although in the spring, when they could not perceive 

 any one watching them, they would roll about, and 

 rub themselves against the brick-work, and show 

 considerable playfulness." And old Izaak says, that 

 he is "a lusty and cunning fish; so lusty and cun- 

 ning, as to endanger the breaking of the angler's 

 line, by running his head forcibly towards any 

 covert, or hole, or bank, and then striking at the 

 line to break it off with his tail ; and also so cunning, 

 to nibble and suck off your worm close to the hook, 

 and yet avoid the letting the hook come into his 

 mouth."")- In the same edition of this work, from 

 which the preceding is taken, is a highly characteris- 

 tic anecdote of angling, given by the editor, in a 

 note apparently quoted from Hawkins. " A lover 

 of angling told me the following story : He was 

 fishing in the river Lea, at the ferry called Jeremy's, 



* Barba, a beard. + P. 288 (1815). 



