BARBEL, DACE, AND GUDGEON. 67 
inhabit ponds and canals, especially those which 
receive drainage or surface-water from the land. 
And in such situations, where these runners are 
found, the fish may often be observed feeding 
at.their mouths. A shoal so engaged affords a 
pretty sight, especially if the water be clear and has 
the sun upon it. It is at such times that gudgeon 
are seen at their best. They are exceedingly 
lively, rushing hither and thither like streaks of 
silver light—the fish crossing and recrossing, but 
never for a moment remaining in one position. 
The surface-water from fields brings down a 
quantity of various lower forms of life, and upon 
these gudgeon feed. The little fishes are om- 
nivorous in their appetites, and devour tiny 
red-worms (which they love well), insects and 
their larve, small shelled-snails, water-beetles, and 
spawn. But although such greedy feeders, they 
are not particular in their diet, and the water 
surrounding a certain sewage-farm known to us 
swarms with them. Sewage in solution seems 
not to affect them, and they frequently feed upon 
the foulest matter flowing from pipes. Anent 
this, Buckland writes of gudgeon as follows: ‘* To 
lawyers, the poor innocent gudgeon may be a very 
serviceable fish, for he may be brought as a witness 
into court, to prove that pollutions are not in- 
jurious to salmon or trout fisheries. A live gud- 
F232 
