OR, THE HOME-CULTURE OF FRESH-WATER PLANTS. 
becomes restless; and its popular name, Loach, or 
Loche, is derived from the French verb loclier , to 
be uneasy. A continental species, the lake Loche, 
is in an old naturalist’s miscellany termed the Ther- 
mometrum vivum ; and it is certain that they are ex¬ 
tremely sensitive to atmospheric changes, as thunder 
frequently kills them. The Loach is not altogether 
solitary in this extreme sensitiveness to change of 
weather, for the Gold Carp frequently die in large 
numbers during thunder-storms; and Lobsters, as 
Pennant tells us, sometimes cast their claws at a 
loud clap of thunder. It has also been observed that 
the high swimming fish are less affected by electric 
changes than those that swim near the bottom. 
The Loach, considered by us as an utterly insig¬ 
nificant fish, is considered a choice table delicacy in 
Sweden, where it was naturalized by Frederic I. 
as a table delicacy. 
The Gudgeon (Gobio fluvialis ) holds a more con¬ 
spicuous place among our smaller native fishes. 
The tones of purplish green which decorate his 
back are very pleasing, and, in some individuals, of 
remarkable richness, and he occasionally attains the 
length of eight inches, though seldom exceeding 
four. Three or more should be kept, if any, as they 
are accustomed to swim in shoals, and a phalanx of 
63 
