THE BREAM. aot 
brought to this country from China, and has almost acclimatized itself to 
the cold seasons of England. Its habits and splendid clothing are too well- 
known to need description. 
ANOTHER well-known member of the same genus is the BARBEL, a fine 
but not brilliant fish which is common in many of the English rivers, 
This fish may easily be known, from the four fleshy appendages, called 
beards or barbules, which hang from the head, two being placed on the nose 
and the other two at each angle of the mouth. It is one of the mud-loving 
fish, grubbing with its nose in the soft banks for the pturjose of unearthing 
the aqu«tic larvee of various insects which make their home in such 
places, and being, in all probability, aided by its barbules in its search 
after food. 
The Barbel is sometimes so sluggish in its movements, and so deeply 
occupied in rooting about the bank, that an accomplished swimmer will 
occasionally dive to the bed of the river, feel for the Barbel along the banks, 
and bring them to the surface in his bare hand. From this habit of 
grubbing in the mud, the Barbel has earned the name of Fresh-water Pig. 
The colour of the Barbel is brown above with a green wash, and yellowish 
green on thesides. All the scales have a metallic lustre, and the cheeks and 
gill-covers have also a polished look as if covered with very thin bronze. 
The abdomen is white. The Barbel is somewhat long in proportion to its 
weight, which is extremely variable, seldom, however, exceeding eleven or 
twelve pounds. 
THE TENCH is hardly so common as the other two species, preferring the 
slowest and muddiest rivers, and thriving well in ponds and lakes, or even in 
clay-pits. No water, indeed, seems to be too thick, muddy, or even fetid, for 
the Tench to inhabit, and it is rather curious that in such cases, even where 
the fishermen could scarcely endure the stench of the mud adhering to their 
nets, the fish were larger sized, and of remarkably sweet flavour. 
In the winter months the Tench is said to bury itself in the mud, and 
there to remain, in a semi-torpid 
condition, until the succeeding 
spring calls it again to life and 
action. The colour of the Tench is 
greenish olive, darker above than 
below, and with a fine golden wash. 
THE ease with which the GUD-, < 
GEON is taken has passed into a 41} 
proverb. This pretty little fish is + 
usually found in shallow parts of , 
rivers, where the bottom is gravelly. 
If the gravel is stirred up, the 
Gudgeons immediatelv flock to the 
place, and a worm suspended amid 
the turbid water is eagerly snapped 
at bythem. The fishermen usually 
take them in nets, and keep them GUDGEON. —(G bio fluviatilis.) 
alive in well-boats. They are largely BREAM.—(Aéramus brama.) 
purchased as baits for trolling. 
The flesh of the Gudgeon is particularly delicate, and although its length 
rarely exceeds seven inches, yet from the ease with which numbers can be 
obtained, it forms a dish by no means to bedespised. The BREaM is mostly 
found in large lakes or in slowly running rivers, the lakes of Cumberland 
being favourite resorts of this fish, Although the flesh of the Bream is not 
held in any great estimation, being poorly flavoured and very full of bones, 
.T 
