350 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



in lakes and still deep rivers. One taken 

 in the Trent weighed 2 lbs. 



The Dace (C vulgaris) is very similar 

 in appearance and habit to the roach, but 

 smaller and longer in form, and rarely ex- 

 ceeds I lb. in weight. 



The Bleak (C. albumus) .—Thi^ fish is 

 said to be plentiful near Oxford, but I don't 

 know anything about it. 



The Gudgeon {GoUo fluviaUHs) is a 



pretty little fish which is only five or six 

 inches long, and has a single barbule at 

 each angle of the mouth. It is fond of 

 gentle streams and rivers with gravelly 

 bottoms. 



The Loach [Cobitis barbaUda), or, as it 

 is sometimes called, Beardie, may be easily 

 distinguished from other small fish by hav- 

 ing six barbules about the mouth. It is very 

 fond of lurking beneath stones in our rivers 

 and becks. 



The Minnow (C. phoxinus).— This 

 gregarious species, which is to be found in 

 every shallow stream, is so well known as 

 to need no description. It is the smallest 

 fish inhabiting this country. 



The Common Eel {AnguUia acuU- 



rostros). — The Common Eel is the charac- 

 teristic representative of a family destitute 

 of ventral fins. It may be found in our 

 rivers, ponds, and even in clay-pits. It is 

 very partial to mud, and is often called the 

 mud-eel. It has a very sharp nose, by 

 which it is distinguished from its near 

 relative. In the Ouse (Hunts), one was 

 taken in 1869, weighing 7 lbs., and another 

 in the Arun, gibs., which is the heaviest I 

 have seen recorded. 



The Broad-nosed Eel (A. latirostros) 

 is almost as common a species as the pre- 

 ceeding. It differs in having a much broader 

 head, the nose blunter, and the skin thicker, 

 and rarely exceeding 5 lbs. in weight. 



The Snig Eel {A. mediorostros.) This 

 Eel is said to be found in the Avon, in 



Hampshire, but I am not acquainted with 

 it. It is said to weigh only half-a-pound. 



The Sea Lamprey [Petromyzon Mavi- 



mm) is a migratory fish, which makes its 

 (in spring) up our rivers for the purpose 

 of depositing its spawn. The peculiarity of 

 this family is that the species are devoid of 

 both pectoral and ventral fins, and belong 

 the lowest in the scale of organization 

 among vertibrate animals. Length 18 ins. 



The River Lamprey (p. fluviatiUs), 



is a permanent resident in our fresh water. 

 It has a rounded head, a slender pipe-like 

 body and compressed toward the tail. 

 Seldom exceeds 15 inches in length. 



The Sand-pride {Amimcetes bra.uh. 

 talis is a smaller species, usually found 

 deeply buried in the mud ; its length about 

 8 inches, and the thickness of a clay-pipe 

 stem. 



BRITISH BIRDS, THEIR 

 NESTS AND EGGS. 



By S. L. MosLEY. 



26. SONG THRUSH. 



Ttirdiis musicus, Linn. 

 Aderyn Bronfraith (Anct. Brit.) 



Musicus (L), Tuneful. 



Size. — Length, about gin. ; expanse ift. 



Plumage. — Bill dark horn colour, 

 lighter at the base of the lower mandible. 

 Eyes hazel brown. A few black bristles 

 before the eye, and longer ones at the gape. 

 Top of head and whole of upper surface 

 brown tinted, with greenish ; wing coverts 

 tipped with paler colour. An indistinct 

 dark streak runs through the eye, and a 

 lighter one over it. Under parts bluish 

 white, tinted with buff at the breast, and 

 spotted with dark brown. Under wing 

 coverts orange, paler than in the Redwing. 

 Legs and toes yellowish brown. The sexes 

 are similar. 



