Class IV. GUDGEON CYPRINE. 477 



species that is gregarious : in a third place he 

 describes it as a sea fish ; we must therefore 

 consider the Kcufw he mentions, lib. ix. c. 2. 

 and lib. viii. c. 19. as the same with our 

 species.* 



This fish is generally found in gentle streams, 

 and is of a small size : those few, however, that 

 are caught in the Kennet, and Cole, are three 

 times the weight of those taken elsewhere. The 

 largest we ever heard of was taken near Ux* 

 bridge, and weighed half a pound. They bite 

 eagerly, and are assembled by raking the bed of 

 the river ; to this spot they immediately crowd 

 in shoals, expecting food from this disturbance. 



The shape of the body is thick and round ; Descrip- 

 the irides tinged with red ; the gill covers with 

 green and silver; the lower jaw is shorter than 

 the upper; at each corner of the mouth is a 

 single beard; the back olive, spotted with black; 

 the side-line strait ; the sides beneath that sil- 

 very ; the belly white. The tail is forked ; that, 

 as well as the dorsal fin, is spotted with black. 



* The gudgeon is enumerated among the Syrian fish, by Dr. 

 Bussel, p. 75. 



