THE MINNOW. 129 



in England, frequented by roach and dace. It is 

 chiefly prized by the juvenile angler, being of an 

 open candid nature, and easy of access by means of 

 almost any small fly. Mr. Jesse informs us, that 

 it is the most amusing and playful of all the species 

 confined in the vivarium of Bushy Park. " Their 

 activity could not be exceeded, and it gave me 

 much pleasure to. see them, on a still summer's 

 evening, dart at every little fly that settled on the 

 water near them, appearing always restless, and 

 yet always happy." Mr. Yarrell states that the 

 bleak is frequently found to have its intestines oc- 

 cupied by tape-worms, and that the name of mad 

 bleak, is bestowed upon such as are seen occasion- 

 ally swimming in an agitated and unnatural man- 

 ner on the surface of the water. These peculiar 

 movements are supposed to result from the pain 

 produced by their internal tormentors. 



The body of this species is of an elongated and 

 narrow form, the forehead straight, and the lower 

 jaw somewhat extended. The colour above is pale 

 greenish or ashy-brown, tinged with blue, the sides 

 and abdomen silvery white. The bleak is common* 

 in Europe, and is one of the species whose nacre, 

 or silvery matter, is used in the fabrication of 

 artificial pearls. 



THE MINNOW.* 



Although the sportsman of maturer years may 

 despise " this small familiar fry," we cannot al- 

 together pass over, in our brief record of angler's 



* Leuciscus phoannus, Cuv. Cyprinus p1ioa,inus y Linn. 

 M 



