130 VERTEBRATA. PISCES. 



without any strong rays ; they have no tentacles at 

 the mouth. Of this division, no less than ten 

 species are natives of British waters, a greater num- 

 ber than of any other genus. Among them, the 

 best known are the Dace, (L. Vulgaris,) the Roach, 

 (L. Rutilus,} remarkable for the silvery whiteness of 

 the sides and belly, and the bright scarlet hue of the 

 fins ; the logger-headed Chub, as "Walton calls him, 

 (L. Cephalus,) and the prettily mottled Minnow, (L. 

 Phoxinus,) proverbial for its minuteness. Pretty as 

 is the last-named species with its bright eye, marbled 

 sides, and pink belly, it is accused of the habit of 

 cannibalism, too common we fear among fishes. 

 The poet Cowper in one of his letters says, " Mrs. 

 Unwin and I, in crossing a brook, saw from the foot- 

 bridge, something at the bottom of the water which 

 had the appearance of a flower. Observing it atten- 

 tively, I found that it consisted of a circular assem- 

 blage of Minnows ; their heads all met in the centre, 

 and their tails diverging at equal distances, and 

 being elevated above their heads, gave them the ap- 

 pearance of a flower half blown. One was longer 

 than the rest ; and as often as a straggler came in 

 sight, he quitted his place to pursue him ; and 

 having driven him away, he returned to it again ; no 

 other Minnow offering to take it in his absence. 

 This I saw him do several times. The object that 

 had attracted them all was a dead Minnow, which 

 they seemed to be devouring." From the scales of 

 several species of this genus, and especially from 

 those of the Bleak, (L. Alburnus^) is obtained a 



