CLASS V. PISCES: OllDER 3. TELEOSTEA. 



475 



THE TENCH. 



tlieir larvae, and molluscous animals. It is small, rarely exceeding eiglit inches in length, and 

 affords excellent sport to young anglers. It spawns in May, among stones in shallow water. The 

 Thames fishermen take great numbers in easting nets. The Niagara Gudgeon, G. cataractce, 

 found near the Falls of Niagara, is five inches long. 



Genus TING A : Tinca^ includes the Tench, T. vulgaris, found in most European lakes and 



rivers. It is exceedingly tenacious of life ; 

 loves foul and weedy water; thrives 

 even where the mud is of an intolerably 

 fetid odor, and so black as to color the 

 fish with its own inky hue. It is easily 

 ^ propagated, and is esteemed a useful fish, 

 "' the flesh being tolerably good. It spawns 

 ; about the middle of June. 

 3 6^e/ZMS ABRAMIS : Ahr amis, mdndc?, 

 the Bream, A. brama, an inhabitant of 

 the lakes and rivers of Europe generally. 

 It is very abundant in the larger lakes 

 and quiet rivers of Great Britain and Ire- 

 land. It swims in shoals ; feeds on worms, 

 ■with other soft-bodied animals, and some 

 vegetable substances. Its flesh is insipid, 

 but the breeding of it is encouraged to 

 feed pike and other voracious fishes. In 

 Ireland it grows to the weight of twelve 

 and fourteen pounds; one pound is the 

 conunon weight. 



The Variegated Bream, A. versicolor, 

 is an American species, of a silvery color, 

 varied with blue, green, and golden. It 

 is five to seven inches long, and common 

 in the rivers and ponds of New York and 

 New England. Its flesh is savory, and it is caught by young fishermen in considerable num- 

 bers. It is often seen in the markets of New York. It is sometimes called Yclloiv-bellied Perch, 

 and also Wind-Fish, as it is seen when a flaw of wind ruffles the surface to dart by hundreds, 

 and often thousands, to the top of the water. The Common Pond-fish, Pomotis vulgaris, abun- 

 dant in all parts of the country, shares with this the title of Bream, and also the popular 

 designation of Pumpkin-seed. 



Genus LEUCISCUS : Leuciscus, includes the Ide, L. idus, inhabiting large rocky lakes, from 



whicii it seeks its way into the rivers 

 to spawn in April or May. It fi'cds 

 on worms and herbage, and the flesh 

 is of ffood flavor. It is common in 

 Northern Europe. 



The Roach, L. rutilus, is abund- 

 ant in the rivers of the temperate 

 parts of Europe. It is gregarious, 

 and feeds like the preceding. It at- 

 tains the weight of one to two pounds. 

 In the proverb, '■'■sound as a roach,^'' 

 the last word is to be pronounced rock. The English also say sound as a trout. The Italians 

 have a similar proverb — healthij as a fish ; and the French say, as hale as a gardon, the latter 

 being their name for the ide. 



The Dace, L. vulgaris, also called Dare and Dart, feeds on wonns and other soft substances ; 



THE BREAM. 



THE IDE. 



