RIVER GARDENS; 
these little fish swimming about the Aquarium, in 
company, produce a pleasing effect. 
The Miller’ s-thumb, or Bull-head, would form 
a curious and interesting object in the Aquarium, 
hut that he has the habit of concealing himself 
under stones or any other shelter he can find. In 
Switzerland children watch for them and spear 
them as they attempt to dart from the shelter of 
one stone to that of another. It is considered deli¬ 
cate food in Italy, as we are told by Bosso ; and in 
Bussia it is used as a charm against fever. 
The Minnow, Leuciscus phoxinus (Plate IV., Nos. 
5 and 6), is one of the very smallest of British fish, 
hut he is a very elegant little fellow. His motions, 
are sprightly and agile in the extreme, and when 
the sun shines upon the tank in which he is placed, 
the fresh olive-green of his hack shading to silvery 
white beneath, has a very glittering effect as he 
darts playfully about. In summer the white por¬ 
tion of the body is delicately tinted with rose 
colour, which has doubtless given to him one of his 
popular names, the Pink. The name Minnow, 
however, or, more correctly, Minim, is no doubt 
derived from the Latin word minimus, as he is, in 
fact, one of our smallest fresh-water fishes. But 
there is one native genus of still smaller dimensions, 
64 
