190 BRITISH FRESHWATER FISHES 



benefit of the shoal; in fact, Minnow nets and traps 

 depend for their success on these characteristics of 

 the species. It is only necessary to lower a net 

 into the water where Minnows abound, and to let it 

 remain still ; they will soon gather round, and then 

 the boldest will venture over it and will quickly be 

 followed by the rest, especially if their inquisitiveness 

 be stimulated by the presence of a few pieces of red 

 wool or some other bright material ; when the shoal 

 are busily engaged in testing and discussing the 

 nature of this new object the greater part of them 

 may be captured if the net is quietly drawn up. 



In the winter the Minnows retire into deep water 

 and lie hidden under stones or in holes in the 

 banks. Their food consists principally of insects, 

 worms, shrimps, little molluscs, and the eggs and 

 minute fry of other fishes. They are also said to 

 eat dead fish, but only on the authority of a writer 

 in Loudorfs Magazine^ quoted by Yarrell, who re- 

 lated that as he crossed a brook he " saw from the 

 foot-bridge something at the bottom of the water 

 which had the appearance of a flower. Observing 

 it attentively I found that it consisted of a circular 

 assemblage of Minnows ; their heads all met in the 

 centre, and their tails diverging at equal distances, 

 and being elevated above their heads, gave them the 

 appearance of a flower half-blown. One was longer 

 than the rest, and as often as a straggler came in 

 sight, he quitted his place to pursue him ; and 

 having driven him away, he returned to it again, 

 no other Minnow offering to take it in his absence. 

 This I saw him do several times. The object 

 that had attracted them all was a dead Minnow, 

 which they seemed to be devouring." 





