THE FISHES, MOLLUSCA, AND OTHER OBJECTS. 25 



streams near the ruins of large monasteries, it may 

 have originally been brought by the old monks, 

 who always took care to have a plentiful supply of 

 fish by them, and those of the best kinds. The 

 generic name of the Grayling was given to it on 

 account of the peculiar odour of thyme which it gives 

 out, just as the smelt emits that of the cucumber. 



Fig. 13. 



Scale of Crucian Carp (Cyprinus carassius). 



The Barbel (Barbus vulgaris) is a fish fondei of 

 warmer, or more equally temperate waters than 

 those of our eastern and midland rivers. It is 

 common, however, in the Thames, where it attains 

 a great size. Its name is said to be derived from the 

 larbs, or wattles atached to its mouth. This may 

 be so, but it seems like catching at the first ex- 



