THE CARP FAMILY. 125 



the base ; their mouths are likewise furnished with beards ; 

 but they have no strong bony ray at the commencement 

 of either dorsal or anal fins. 



The Gudgeon, which in this country is represented by a 

 single species, is principally interesting to anglers as a bait 

 for other fish, although, from its instinctive readiness to 

 bite, and general simplicity of behaviour, it has many 

 admirers amongst the fairer sex, who frequently become 

 very skilful in its capture. I once had the pleasure of for- 

 feiting a pair of gloves to a young lady who laid a wager 

 that she would catch ten out of a dozen bites, " nibbles 

 included" — and actually did it. 



Notwithstanding, however, this somewhat feminine repu- 

 tation, there is no doubt that for male minds also Gudgeon- 

 fishing occasionally possesses a peculiar fascination ; and it 

 is mentioned as a fact that the clergyman of a parish near 

 Hampton Court, who was engaged to be married to a 

 bishop's daughter, lingered so long over this sport as to 

 arrive too late for the ceremony; whereupon the lady, 

 piqued at his neglect, refused to be united to one who pre- 

 ferred his basket to his bride *. 



Like the Barbel, the Gudgeon feeds at the bottom, its 

 food consisting of worms, insects, larvae, spawn of other fish, 

 and such matters ; and, when angling, it is usual to rake 

 the bed of the river in order that the fish may be attracted 

 to the spot by the animalcula, blood-worms, &c. which 

 are disturbed in the operation. These blood- worms, often 

 * Jesse's Angler's Rambles, p. 4. 



