Class IV. TENCH CYPRINE. 475 



repute, was in his days the repast only of the 

 Canaille. 



Quis non et virides vulgi solatia Tinca9 

 Norit ? 



It has been by some called the Physician of 

 the fish, and the slime said to be so healing, that 

 the wounded apply it as a styptic or balsam. 

 The ingenious Moses Brown, in his piscatory 

 eclogues, says, that even the voracious pike 

 will spare the tench on account of its healing 

 powers : 



The Tench he spares a medicinal kind : 



For when by wounds distrest, or sore disease, 



He courts the salutary fish for ease ; 



Close to his scales the kind physician glides, 



And sweats a healing balsam from his sides.* 



What virtue its slime may have to the inha- 

 bitants of the water, we will not vouch for, but 

 its flesh is a wholesome and delicious food to 

 those of the earth. The Germans are of a dif- 

 ferent opinion. By way of contempt, they call 

 it Shoemaker. Gesner even says, that it is in- 

 sipid and unwholesome. 



It loves still waters, and is rarely found in 

 rivers : is very foolish, and easily caught. 



It does not commonly exceed four or five 



* Ed. II. 



