THE TENCH. l3g 



but, to have grown exceedingly fat, and become far 

 superior in taste to those immediately taken from the 

 pond *. 



In their general manners, Carp exhibit so great a 

 degree of cunning as to be sometimes called by the 

 country people River Fox. When attempted to be 

 taken by a net, they will often leap over it ; or im- 

 merse themselves so deep in the mud as to suffer the 

 net to pass over without touching them. They are 

 also very shy ot taking a bait; but, during spawning- 

 time, so intent are they on the business of depositing 

 their spawn, that they will suffer themselves to be 

 handled by any one who attempts it. They breed 

 three or four times in the year, but their first spawn- 

 ing is in the beginning of May f. 



These fish were first introduced into th's country 

 about three hundred years ago. Of their sound or 

 air-bladder a kind of fish glue is made j and a green 

 paint of their gall. 



THE TENCH t. 



The Tench is one of those fish that prefer foul 

 and weedy waters ; and its haunts in rivers are 

 chiefly among weeds, and in places well shaded 

 with rushes. These fish thrive best in standing wa- 

 ters, where they lie under weeds near sluices and 

 pond heads. They are much more numerous in 



* Perm. Brit. Zool. iii. 355. 



t Walton, 160.— Penn. Brit. Zool. iii. 35C. 



X Synonym?.— Cyprinus tinea. Linn.— Tinea. Auson\us\ 



