TENCH. 
23 
the descriptive epithet may more fitly apply to the latter than 
to the former. 
There is reason to believe that the Teneh has always been an 
inhabitant of our lakes and slowly-moving rivers, in the deeper 
portions of which, where weeds and mud abound, it finds 
congenial haunts; and where its food of vegetables, worms, and 
small fishes is easily and abundantly obtained. A slimy bottom 
is especially selected, and from this circumstance, as also from 
the slimy covering of its body, in which last particular it 
exceeds most fishes which possess scales, in some countries it has 
received its name. It has been observed that these fishes, 
which are fond of associating together, are much in the custom 
of licking from each other this mucous secretion, as they also 
are of nibbling any soft and fat substance, even of a wound 
which may have been received in assaults from one another. This 
nibbling of the raw surface has been interpreted into an intended 
healing process, and the Tench has accordingly been termed 
the Physician of fishes, 
Holiiished believes that he is giving a proof that this fish 
is the Leach of fishes by saying — “for when the fishmonger 
has opened his (the Pike’s) side, and laied out his rivet unto 
the buier for the better utterance of his ware, aud cannot make 
him away at that present, he laieth the same againe into the 
proper place, and sowing up the wound, he rcstorcth him to the 
pond where Tenches are, who never cease to sucke and lickc 
his greeved place, till they have restored him in health and 
made him rcadie to come againe to the stall when his turiie 
shall come about.” This idea of the healing virtue of the 
Tench’s mouth, and not of the slimy exudation of its sides 
as a modern poet has surmised, has almost amounted to a 
sujjerstition, and is referred to even in the Book of St. Albans; 
but it appears to have no other foundation than the love of 
this fish for the substance exuding fr-om the wound, and the 
impunity with which the nibbling may be accomplished, with 
some benefit, although not an intended one, to the process of 
healing; but that it is less liable than other fishes to be 
devoured by the Pike may be a truth, although the cause of 
this exemption seems not easily explained. The Pilotfish swims 
near the Shark in safety, while other fishes cannot venture to 
do the same. 
