THE LOCHE. 
343 
Division IV . — ■ Abdominal Fijhes. 
Section X. 
Genus XLIII — l%e Loche. 
We are now come to the lall divifion of the fpiuous 
fifties, termed by naturalifts, the abdominal, from the fi- 
tuation of their ventral fins, which are placed far behind 
the pe&oral in the abdomen. The loche, or cobitis of 
Linneeus, which is placed at the head of this tribe, is 
perhaps the raoft unihapely of the whole race. The 
body is compreftfed laterally, and nearly of the fame depth 
from the head to the tail : It is deftitute of that fymmet- 
ry and elegant tapering form, which is charaSeriftic of 
the greater part of fifties. The fcales are deciduous, and 
fo fmall as fcarcely to be perceived. The back is mar- 
bled with brown fpots, upon a paler ground of the fame 
colour ; the belly, a dirty white *. 
Linticejis has five fpecies, that are peculiar to our rivu- 
lets. The loche feldom attains to the fize of four inches ; and 
Is rendered hideous by a beard that projects all round the 
fnout. Forbidding, however, as this animal may feem, 
we are told our fportfmen fometimes fwallow it down 
alive in a glafs of wine f . 
H h a The 
f tiuan, Hift. Fifciuin, p, \ Jirkifli ^oojcgy. 
