NOTE X. 



THE TENCH. 

 (Cgprinus Tinea, or Tinea Vulgaris.) 



" The Tench, physician of the hroo7c." 



Ode to Walton. 



The tench is another member of the Cyprinidce family, 

 and seems to " run in couples " with the carp, the two 

 names being almost invariably linked together on the 

 angler's lips. The fish are almost invariably found to- 

 gether in the same water. Mr. Pennell, whose general 

 experiences as a fisherman and ichthyologist are second to 

 none, says that, though he has known waters which con- 

 tain carp to be destitute of tench, he cannot remember a 

 single instance of the converse. There must, however, 

 be many instances of waters containing tench only : I cer- 

 tainly know two such waters in Hertfordshire ; and there 

 must be many instances of ponds having been stocked with 

 one fish without the other. Still, as a matter of fact, in 

 nineteen cases out of twenty the two fish are found to- 

 gether, a phenomenon which seems to suggest that in the 

 course of time the presence of one species causes the 

 presence of the other ; but I must leave it to Mr. Darwin 

 and his school to point out by what law or process this 

 comes to pass. 



