

Near Edmonton, on the Lea ; a rural bit by T. Creswick. 



THE FIFTH DAY. 



(Continued.) 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



OF THE MINNOW OR PENK, OP THE LOACH, AND OF THE BULL-HEAD, 

 OR MILLER'S-THUMB. 



Piscator. There be also three or four other little fish 

 that I had almost forgot, that all are without scales ; a and may 

 for excellence of meat, be compared to any fish of greatest 

 value, and largest size. They be usually full of eggs or spawn 

 all the months of summer ; for they breed often, as 'tis obser- 

 ved mice and many of the smaller four-footed creatures of the 

 earth do ; and as those, so these come quickly to their full 

 growth and perfection. And it is needful that they breed both 

 often and numerously ; for they be, besides other accidents 



1 The minnow is covered with numerous serrate scales, so that Walton 

 is in error in saying they are without them. Indeed several fishes sup 

 posed to be without scales have them. The eels have scales, though 

 they are so minute as to require the aid of a magnifying glass to see them ; 

 but it is curious that some allied genera, as the congers, &c., are destitute 

 of them. ED. 



