69 
LOACH. 
ojtis flmnahlis larbatula, 'Willoughby; p. 265, Table Q. 8. 
harhatula, Linn^,us. Cuvier. Bloch ; PI. 31, f. 3. 
,, “ Donovan ; PL 22. 
„ ** Flejiing; Britisb Animals, p. 189. 
,, * Jenyns; Manual, p. 416. 
** Yarkell; Br. Fishes, vol. i, p. 427. It 
has been supposed to be the Redo 
of the Poet Ausonius. 
HE Loach is generally distributed throughout the United 
ingdom, and over a large part of the continent of Europe, 
to the far north of Scandinavia; but it does not appear to 
®xist in warmer countries, although several other species of the 
®^ine family are known in India. But even among ourselves 
W does not inhabit all the streams which might be supposed 
suited to its nature; and whilst a preference is given to clear 
^ater which flows with some degree of rapidity, it is most 
|equently met with in the narrower branches of a river rather 
^ '‘u in the wider and deeper stream. It keeps chiefly at the 
ottom, where it lies concealed beneath a stone, or resting at 
its ^ waiting for prey with the barbs which encircle 
mouth extended; and the quick sensibility with which they 
a- may be judged from the nerves with which they 
le uinished, and which are of larger size than those which 
P ovide the eyes with sight. Soon after these nerves have 
^ ue rom the brain, at about the hindmost comer of the eye, 
,?^ them divides into a pair of branches, the lowermost 
Which proceeds to the corner of the mouth, while the upper 
nost-'l'^ probably to the barbs. And that the 
wL ' ' ^ possessed of acute sensibility is proved in that 
^ en t e experiment has been made, this fish has been seen 
ave followed its food by the scent, so as to have discovered 
