GUDGEON. 21 



their numbers, raking the gravelly bottom of the stream, or 

 throwing into the water some enticing matters that shall flow 

 on with the current will attract a larger assembly which shall 

 renew the sport. Their food is worms, molluscous animals, and 

 vegetables, which they seek near the bottom in winter; but they 

 will not rise to a fly. It is even said that they will feed on 

 the carcase of a dead animal, which may have fallen into the 

 river. 



The Gudgeon possesses the internal structure of hearing and 

 perception which belong to others of this family; and its nostrils 

 are especially open to the mingled impressions of smell and 

 taste; but its more slender form and the love of the more rapid 

 stream preserve it from the sluggishness which forms a large 

 portion of the character of the Carp and Tench. 



This fish is common in many of the rivers of Ireland, but it 

 is not mentioned as occurring in Scotland, and it is known 

 only of late in Cornwall or the west portion of Devonshire; but 

 they thrive in some ponds at Penzance, into which they have 

 been lately introduced. They are well known on the continent 

 of Europe, but appear to be less common in Italy, although 

 referred to in the south of France by Ausonius. It is also 

 rare in Sweden, and occurs only in a few streams in the south 

 of that country; up which they proceed in summer, from the 

 neighbouring ponds and lakes, and to which they again retreat 

 in the winter. 



The Gudgeon grows to the length of about six inches, the 

 body moderately lengthened, rounded, but a little compressed 

 at the sides, and covered with scales; lateral line below the 

 exact middle of the depth, straight; upper jaw slightly the 

 longest, without teeth; but low in the gullet there are teeth as 

 in others of the family. At the corners of the mouth a barb. 

 Nostrils large, and a depression across the front before them. 

 Eye moderate. Dorsal fin a little before the middle of the 

 length, as long as broad, above the ventrals; anal fin shorter 

 than the dorsal, behind the line of that fin; tail forked. Colour 

 on the back brownish, or tending to bluish green; yellowish 

 on the side, white below; the back, dorsal and caudal fins 

 usually spotted, but the fins sometimes with stripes; anal, 

 pectoral, and ventral fins plain. Fin rays — the dorsal ten, anal 

 nine, pectoral sixteen, ventral eight, caudal nineteen. 



