FISHES. 127 



In the spring-time the male Minnow becomes tinged with 

 green and red, and when thus coloured it is difficult to 

 find a more beautiful little fish. Minnows spawn where 

 the stream or river has a gravelly bottom. The ova hatch 

 in about a week. It seems very wonderful that Minnows 

 should be as munerous as they are, when one considers how 

 many enemies they have. Almost every fish will, at times, 

 devour them. Man has also found that they make delicious 

 food when properly cooked. The body of the Minnow is a 

 little less in depth than the length of its head. The colour 



Fig. 96. Tench (Tinca vulgaris) 



of the back is olive-brown, the sides being lighter in shade 

 and spotted. The colouring, however, of these fish varies a 

 good deal according to the localities in which they are found. 

 The dorsal fin is just over the space between the ventral 

 and anal fins. The taU is somewhat deeply forked, and there 

 are dark spots at its base. This fish does not often exceed 

 3in. in length. 



Though the carp and the minnow are so extremely hardy, 

 I believe the Tench {Tinea vulgaris) (Fig. 96) is hardier than 

 either. It will live for a very long time out of water ; in 

 fact, it is said that when this fish has been brought to the 

 market, and has failed there to obtain a purchaser, it has 

 been taken back again and returned to the water whence it 



