70 
LOACH. 
it when intentionally concealed from the mere influence of 
sight and feeling. 
But it is for the most part only by daylight that the Loach 
reclines listlessly at the bottom, concealed or in an apparently 
waiting posture; for it is a nocturnal fish, and when darkness 
has concealed its movements, it assumes habits of active energy, 
whether in seeking its prey or escaping enemies; and of the 
approach of the latter, or the feeling of any unusual motion, 
its instinctive watchfulness presently puts it on its guard. When 
kept in a tank its boisterous attempts to extend its rambles 
have been so powerful and persevering as to be heard far off, 
and have caused it to throw itself over the wall of its prison; 
and this is especially the case at the approach of or during 
remarkable changes of wind and weather. Nor ought this 
sensibility to atmospheric changes excite surprise ; since, besides 
the experience of anglers in the river, fishermen on the ocean 
know that at considerable depths many sorts of fish are quickly 
sensible of the same influence, as displayed in their motions of 
activity and appetite; and it is only in the sujiposition of the 
sensition excited in them by electric changes in the atmosphere 
that this can be accounted for. This fish is also observed to 
ascend from the bottom to the surface, and again to descend 
many times in succession ; and on these occasions it is probable 
that it takes in and swallows portions of air; not, however, into 
its diminutive air-bladder, but into its stomach; from which it 
passes through the bowel to be discharged in the form of 
carbonic gas; in which proceeding it has been remarked that 
the intestine appears to perform a function which in creatures 
of the land is more particularly the duty of the lungs. 
The Loach will take a bait, and notwithstanding its s mall 
size it has been pronounced delicious food; so that for the use 
of the table in some parts of Europe it is cai-ried to market 
alive. And connected with this, as already, in speaking of the 
Barbel, we have referred to a practice in remote times of eating 
it uncooked; in some parts of our own country a great stretch 
of this morbid appetite is said to be sometimes indulged in, by 
swallowing the Loach while still alive. But when this sort of 
mistaken craving is indulged in, the devourer shoidd at least 
be cautioned to observe the advice of Eondeletius, in not 
mistaking the Armed Loach, next to be described, for the 
