THE TENCH. 



285 



and none at all for a week afterwards, the fish having been aroused to a sense of their danger, 

 and declining to meddle with anything that looks as if it might hide a hook. Even the net, 

 that is so effectual with most fish, is often useless against the ready wiles of the Carp, which 

 will sometimes bury itself in tlie mud as tlie ground line approaches, so as to allow the net to 

 pass over it ; or, if the ground be too hard for such a manoeuvre, will shoot boldly from the 

 bottom of the water, leap over the upper edge of the net, and so escape into the water beyond. 



A fine Carp, say of six or seven pounds, is a truly handsome fish, its large shining scales 

 lying on its body iu the most beautiful regularity, and gleaming with olive-browu washed with 

 gold. The abdomen is white, with a tinge of yellow. 



The beautiful Gold-fish {Cypriiiiis aurdtus), so familiar as a pet and so elegant as it 

 moves round the glass globe in which it is usually kept, is another member of this large and 

 important genus. It seems to have been brought from China, and has almost acclimatized 

 itself to the cold seasons of some countries. Its habits and splendid clothing are too well 

 known to need description. 



Another well-known member of the same genus is the Barbel, a fine but not brilliant 

 fish, which is common in many of tlie European rivers. 



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Tliis fish may easily be kno\vn, from the four fleshy appendages, called beards or 

 barbules, which hang from the head, two being placed on the nose and the other two at 

 each angle of the mouth. It is one of the mud-loving fish, grubbing with its nose in the 

 soft banks for the purpose of imeai-thing the aquatic larva? of various insects which make 

 their home in such jjlaces, and being, in all probability, aided by its barbules in its search 

 after food. The Barbel is sometimes so deeply occupied in rooting about the bank, that an 

 accomplished swimmer may dive to the bed of the river, feel for the Barbel along the banks, 

 and bring it to the surface in his bare hand. 



The Tench prefers the slowest and muddiest rivers, and thriving well in ponds and 

 lakes, or even clay pits. No water, indeed, seems to be too thick, muddy, or even fetid, 

 for the Tench to inhabit, and it is rather curious that in such cases, even where the 

 fishermen could scarcely endure the stench of the mud adhering to their nets, the fish 

 were larger sized and of remarkably sweet flavor. 



In the winter months the Tench is said to bury itself in the mud, and there to remain, in 

 a semi-torpid condition, until the succeeding spring calls it again to life and action. The color 

 of the Tench is greenish -olive, darker above than below, and with a fine golden wash. 



