400 A DESCRIPTION OF 
THE MINNOW. (Cyprinus phoxinus.) 
THE body of the Minnow is of a blackish green, with blue 
and yellow variegations ; the abdomen silvery ; scales 
small ; ten rays in the ventral, anal, and dorsal fins ; tail 
forked, and marked near the base with a dusky spot. Its 
length about three inches. 
This beautiful and well-known fish is frequent in clear 
gravelly streams and rivulets in many parts of Europe. 
In Britain it is observed to appear in March, and is seldom 
seen after October. The Minnow is gregarious : it 
spawns in June, and is, indeed found in roe during the 
greater part of the summer. It is easily tamed ; and, in 
captivity, may be taught to pick flies or filaments of beef 
from the hand. 
The flesh of the Minnow is extremely delicate, but the 
fish is so small that it would take a great number to 
make a dish, and consequently the Minnow is seldom used 
for human food, but is generally employed as a bait to 
catch other fish. 
