372 



ABDOMINAL 



MALACOPTERYGll. CYPRINIDJE. 



THE MINNOW, MINIM, OR PINK. 



Leucitnu phoxinut, COVIER, Regne An. t. ii. p. 276. 



,, Minnow, l-'i.i M. Brit. An. p. 188, sp. 68. 



{'11 lir'ui a.- ,, LINNJEUS. BLOCH, pt. i. pi. 8, fig. 5. 



,, Minnow, PENN. Brit. Zool. vol. iii. p. 489. 



DON. Brit. Fish. pi. 60. 



THIS very prettily marked species, one of the smallest of 

 the British Cyprinida, rarely exceeding three inches in 

 length, inhabits many of the rivers, brooks, and canals in 

 England ; it is also common in the Waters of Leith : it is 

 generally found in the same streams with Trout, preferring 

 gravelly bottoms, and swimming in shoals. In its habits 

 this little fish is active and amusing ; many persons have 

 tried how long they could keep them in confinement, but 

 none have succeeded in preserving them beyond three years. 

 Its food consists of aquatic plants, worms, and small portions 

 of animal substance. A writer in the fifth volume of Mr. 

 London's Magazine of Natural History relates that, crossing a 

 brook, he " saw from the foot-bridge something at the bottom 



