74 THE ANGLER-NATURALIST. 



are that they have the head more or less flattened, with 

 teeth in both jaws and in front of the vomer ; the gill- 

 covers furnished with spines ; the gills with six rays, and 

 large openings ; the body slender and without scales ; and 

 two back- fins. 



The Bullhead is an inhabitant of many of the fresh 

 waters of Europe from Italy to Sweden ; and most Eng- 

 lish streams which in their course run over either sand or 

 gravel produce this fish. It is also common in Scotland, 

 but exceedingly rare in Ireland. Its principal food con- 

 sists of the larvae of water-insects, the ova of other fish, 

 and minute fry ; and being remarkably voracious it rarely 

 or never refuses to bite at a small worm, or other grub, 

 dropped sufficiently near its immense mouth. 



Its favourite haunt is among loose stones, tinder which, 

 from the peculiarly flattened form of its head, it is enabled 



to some extent to thrust itself, thereby obtaining a partial 

 hiding-place. This security, however, like that of the 

 Ostrich, is rather fancied than real ; for the eyes being thus 



