336 NOTES ON FISH AND FISHING. 



have had occasion to mention so often as supplying most 

 of our English fresh-water fish; and he is of the sub- 

 genus Leueisei, or White Fish, to which the roach and 

 dace belong. His ichthyological name is Leuciscus phoxi- 

 nus (Cuvier), or Phoxinus Icevis ; the Greek <£o|o? (con- 

 nected with o£u? — "sharp'"?) signifying "pointed." 

 Thersites, in the Iliad, has this term applied to his head, 

 which was of the sugar-loaf type. But why it should be 

 specially applied to the minnow I cannot understand, as 

 he is no more " pointed," or sugar-loafed, as to either 

 head or tail, than many other fish. 



But never mind — what a pretty little fellow he is ! Not 

 a prettier fish disports itself in our waters. Lay one, 

 when in full season in the height of summer, on the palm 

 of your hand, and examine and admire him. Mark his 

 shape — a miniature salmon in symmetrical configuration. 

 Mark his beautiful colouring — every shade of olive, white, 

 pale brown, silver, pink, and rosy, harmoniously blended, 

 and producing that beautifully mottled appearance which 

 reminds one of the mackerel and of the Salmo fontinalis, 

 the lovely American brook-trout, which I hope before long 

 will be naturalized iu many of our rivers. Izaak Walton 

 describes him in this way : " The minnow when he is in 

 perfect season hath a kind of dappled or waved colour, 

 like a panther, on his sides, inclining to a greenish or sky 

 colour." These are evidently meant to be words of enthu- 

 siastic admiration, though, with all deference to our old 

 master, somewhat unintelligible. But however we may 

 describe him, no one with an eye to beauty can fail to 

 admire the pretty little minim. 



We may not care to angle for him now that we are 

 full-grown, and perhaps grey-haired or bald-headed fisher- 



