186 PHYSOSTOMI. 



Names. — Anglo-Saxon, Myna. It appears to have numerous designations. 

 Mennam in the north of England, and Mennawe and Menuse in old MSS. 

 Minnow said to be derived from "minimus" or minute. Ray says a pinh or 

 minima or minnow-pink, so called from its colour. Locally known as Bennich or 

 Binnich, Minim and Peer, Somersetshire ; Jach Barnell, Warwickshire (see 

 Gasterosteus aculeatus, vol. i, p. 241) ; Mealier and Mengy, Devonshire ; Mennard, 

 Gloucestershire; Shabrid, apud Halliwell. Crothell y dom and Bychan byog, 

 Welsh. Le Vairon, French. 



Habits. — This pretty and active little fish is not often found near the sources 

 of streams, as in such localities a sufficiency of food is not always present. During 

 the summer months it keeps together in large assemblages and generally in 

 shallows or near the surface. But in the cold winter months it more or less 

 conceals itself, commencing to feed in the rivers about March and April. 



In the Severn and other rivers which it frequents, the minnow during the 

 summer months may usually be found lying among the weeds at the tail of a ford, 

 and it is captured by placing a net below these spots and treading these fish out. 

 It feeds on aquatic plants, worms and animal substances. Yarrell observes 

 that no one has succeeded in preserving it beyond three years in an aquarium. 

 Cooper crossing a brook saw from the footbridge, at the bottom of the stream 

 what had the appearance of a flower, and which consisted of an assemblage of 

 these fish, their heads all meeting in a centre and their tails diverging at equal 

 distances. The object which attracted them was a dead minnow which they 

 seemed to be devouring. 



Means of capture. — Netting, or with hook and line. 



Baits. — A worm, or gentle, or even paste. 



Breeding. — Very prolific, and breeding about the end of May or commencement 

 of June, at which period the head is usually covered with small tubercles. The 

 ova are said to be adherent together among the interstices of stones in brooks 

 where they have been deposited. In Devonshire, after the month of June, when 

 most of them have finished spawning, Parnell observed that the males ascended 

 the shallows in large shoals, occupying sometimes the space of several feet in 

 circumference, and giving the water an appearance with their little white- spotted 

 heads of a bed of Ranunculus aauatilis before the buds have fully expanded. 

 Yarrell records having taken the young f of an inch long by the first week in 

 August. Davy found that they hatched on the sixth day. Fatio has observed 

 (Arch. Sc. Nat. Hi, 1875) that not only is there an enlargement of one pectoral 

 ray in the male during the breeding season, but from 6 to 8, and not confined to 

 one period but continuous more or less throughout the year. 



Uses. — Excellent as bait for eels or as spinning bait for trout, perch, pike, or 

 even chub, when it is generally hooked through the upper lip or back fin. Some 

 anglers keep these fish in a white earthenware jar instead of in bottles or tin 

 cans, as they seem to remain much brighter. Although they afford excellent 

 sustenance to trout it is questioned whether they ought to be kept in large 

 numbers in waters frequented by young salmonidaB, as both forms devour the 

 same kind of food and thus the minnow might starve young trout. 



As food. — Much esteemed dressed as " Whitebait." William of Wykeham, the 

 founder of Winchester College, at a dinner which he gave the King and Queen and 

 210 guests, on September 16th, 1394, had served, among other fish, seven gallons 

 of minnows, which cost lis 8d. 



Habitat. — Disseminated throughout Europe. 



In Scotland, near the Moray Firth, " abundant in the Isla, near Keith, and in 

 some other tributaries of the Deveron " (Gordon) ; streams near Banff (Edward) ; 

 one in the Glasgow Museum from Lanarkshire is 4>\ inches long ; Aberdeen 

 (Sim). Throughout most of the north of Scotland, becoming more plentiful as 

 we advance south, in all the rivers entering the Firth of Forth, but rare in the 

 Teith about fifteen miles from Stirling (Parnell). 



In England the minnow is found in the lake district, and Mr. Eagle Clarke 

 observes that he caught about a dozen of the largest he ever saw in the stream 

 running into the Wastwater ; they were quite seven inches in length. Yorkshire 



