GTTDG-ROII. 
21 
their numbers, raking the gravelly bottom of the stream, or 
throwing into the water some enticing matters that shall flow 
m with the current will attract a larger assembly which shall 
renew the sport. Their food is worms, molluscous animals, and 
vegetables, which they seek near the bottom in winter; hut they 
will not rise to a fly. It is even said that they will feed on 
the carcase of a dead animal, which may have fallen into the 
river. 
The Gudgeon possesses the internal structure of hearing and 
perception which belong to others of this family; and its nostrils 
are especially open to the mingled impressions of smell and 
taste ; hut its more slender form and the love of the more rapid 
stream preserve it from the sluggishness whieh forms a large 
portion of the character of the Carp and Tench. 
This fish is common in many of the rivers of Ireland, but it 
is not mentioned as occurring in Scotland, and it is known 
only of late in Cornwall or the west portion of Devonshire; but 
they thrive in some ponds at Penzance, into which they have 
been lately introduced. They are well known on the continent 
of Europe, but appear to be less common in Italy, although 
referred to in the south of France by Ausonius. It is also 
rare in Sweden, and occurs only in a few streams in the south 
of that country; up which they proceed in summer, from the 
aeighbouring ponds and lakes, and to which they again retreat 
in the winter. 
The Gudgeon grows to the length of about six inches, the 
body moderately lengthened, rounded, but a little compressed 
at the sides, and covered with scales ; lateral line below the 
exact middle of the depth, straight; upjjcr jaw slightly the 
longest, without teeth; but low in the gullet there are teeth as 
in others of the family. At the corners of the mouth a barb. 
Nostrils large, and a depression across the front before them. 
Eye moderate. Dorsal fin a little before the liiiddle of the 
length, as long as broad, above the ventrals; anal fin shorter 
than the dorsal, behind the line of that fin ; tail forked. Colour 
on the back brownish, or tending to bluish green; yellowish 
on the side, white below ; the back, dorsal and caudal fins 
usually spotted, but the fins sometimes with stripes; anal, 
pectoral, and ventral fins plain. Fin rays — the dorsal ten, anal 
nine, pectoral sixteen, ventral eight, caudal nineteen. 
