BARBEL, DACE, AND GUDGEON. 67 



inhabit ponds and canals, especially those which 

 receive drainage or surface-water from the land. 

 And in such situations, where these runners are 

 found, the fish may often be observed feeding 

 at their mouths. A shoal so engaged affords a 

 pretty sight, especially if the water be clear and has 

 the sun upon it. It is at such times that gudgeon 

 are seen at their best. They are exceedingly 

 lively, rushing hither and thither like streaks of 

 silver light the fish crossing and recrossing, but 

 never for a moment remaining in one position. 

 The surface-water from fields brings down a 

 quantity of various lower forms of life, and upon 

 these gudgeon feed. The little fishes are om- 

 nivorous in their appetites, and devour tiny 

 red- worms (which they love well), insects and 

 their larvae, small shelled-snails, water-beetles, and 

 spawn. But although such greedy feeders, they 

 are not particular in their diet, and the water 

 surrounding a certain sewage-farm known to us 

 swarms with them. Sewage in solution seems 

 not to affect them, and they frequently feed upon 

 the foulest matter flowing from pipes. Anent 

 this, Buckland writes of gudgeon as follows : "To 

 lawyers, the poor innocent gudgeon may be a very 

 serviceable fish, for he may be brought as a witness 

 into court, to prove that pollutions are not in- 

 jurious to salmon or trout fisheries. A live gud- 



