irresistible. So far as angling is concerned, it is usually caught by that peculiar mode of art called dibbing. The lure, whether moth or beetle, is allowed to hang perpendicularly from the point of the rod, and just touching the water. By tapping the butt-end with the knuckles, a trembling or gentle struggling is produced, in imitation of what would be the natural movements of the insect, had it fallen unincumbered by hook or line upon the water. The chub will be made to rise by this deception, if he is inclined to rise at all. He often, however, prefers to continue sitting where he is. This species spawns in spring, and is regarded as rather coarse, the best mode of dressing being that of broiling with the scales on. It seldom attains to any considerable size, though a specimen is recorded which weighed five pounds.

The chub is rather a dull fish upon the hook, and is speedily tired. Great caution is required on the angler's part, as it is naturally fearful, and sinks, on the least alarm, towards the bottom of the stream. The baits used, besides those already mentioned, are maggots, grasshoppers, salmon-roe, &c. Black and dun flies gaudily dressed, and ribbed with gold or silver twist, are well adapted for deceit in streams, and the red-spinner is not to be despised. The landing net is particularly necessary in angling for chub, as the best spots are generally encumbered by trees or bushes, which prevent or interfere with the fish being either drawn to hand or pulled ashore.

This is a common continental fish, well known in the Thames, and not uncommon in several of the southern counties of England, but becoming rarer as we proceed northward. We have never met with it in Scotland, although it is recorded as occurring here. It is found in Lough Neagh in Ireland, under the misapplied name of roach. "The rudd," says Mr. Yarrell, "in addition to its vivid colours, is also tenacious of life,-and is on that account preferred by trollers as a bait for pike. It breeds freely without requiring any care to be bestowed upon it,-and is therefore useful as food for large perch, trout, or pike. It is said to be a much better fish to eat than the roach, but does not attain more than two pounds' weight. The food of the rudd is worms, molluscous animals and insects, with some vegetable matter; it spawns in April, or early in May, on or about aquatic plants, and the scales at this period are rough to the hand."+

The iris in this species is of an orange red colour, -from whence both its English and Latinised specific name. The cheeks and gill covers are golden yellow; the upper parts brown tinged with green and blue; the sides pale; the abdomen of a light golden yellow; and the entire surface of the body

* Leuciscus erythrothalmus, Cuv.-Cyprinus erythrothalmus, Linn. + British Fishes, vol. i. p. 362.

is pervaded by a brilliant reddish golden hue, of which the tint varies with the fall of light. The fins are of a cinnabar red colour, those of the back and tail being more inclined towards reddish brown. It is no doubt of this fish that Izaak Walton affirms there is a kind of bastard small roach, that breeds in ponds, with a very forked tail, and of a very small size, which some say is bred by the bream and right roach; and some ponds are stored with these beyond belief; and knowing men that know the difference call them rudds: they differ from the true roach as much as a herring from a pilchard." We believe that both the rudd and white bream have been by some regarded as hybrids, but we agree with Mr. Yarrell in thinking that the instances in which animals in a state of unconstrained nature seek society (sexually) beyond their own species, are extremely rare. Hybrids and permanent varieties are the result of restriction and domestication, and notwithstanding the opinion to which Sir Humphrey Davy and other wise and learned observers have lean't, "I confess my doubts of the existence of hybrid fishes."

This is another Lancashire species discovered and described by Mr. Yarrell.+ It was transmitted to that observant naturalist by Lord Derby, and occurs in certain limited localities within the town

* Leuciscus cœruleus, Yarr.

+ Linn. Trans. vol. xvii. p. 8, and British Fishes, vol. i. p. 365.

ship of Knowsley. It is hardy, tenacious of life, and spawns in May. The flesh is firm and good, somewhat resembling that of the perch. Its natural food, and the baits used in its capture, are the same as those of the carp. The largest specimens yet met with have not exceeded a pound in weight. The colour of the upper parts is slate blue, passing beneath into a silvery white,-the whole surface tinged with a metallic lustre. The irides have a tinge of straw colour, the fins are white. Although Mr. Yarrell, in regard to this species, is certainly entitled to the credit of a first describer, yet M. Agassiz in a recent visit to this country, recognised the azurine as a well known inhabitant of some of the Swiss lakes.

This small and active fish may be angled for with what is called a pater noster line, which consists of half a dozen of fine hooks fastened about 6 or 8 inches from each other. These may be baited with gentles, or more variously, to increase the temptation, with a gentle, a small red worm, a fly, &c. and thus several fish may be hooked at the same time. In angling for bleak the tackle must be very fine. In fresh streams they rise well at the black gnat, or any other small sad-coloured fly.

The bleak is a gregarious fish of six or seven inches in length, which inhabits most of the streams

* Leuciscus alburnus, Cuv.

in England, frequented by roach and dace. It is chiefly prized by the juvenile angler, being of an open candid nature, and easy of access by means of almost any small fly. Mr. Jesse informs us, that it is the most amusing and playful of all the species confined in the vivarium of Bushy Park. "Their activity could not be exceeded, and it gave me much pleasure to see them, on a still summer's evening, dart at every little fly that settled on the water near them,-appearing always restless, and yet always happy." Mr. Yarrell states that the bleak is frequently found to have its intestines occupied by tape-worms, and that the name of mad bleak, is bestowed upon such as are seen occasionally swimming in an agitated and unnatural manner on the surface of the water. These peculiar movements are supposed to result from the pain produced by their internal tormentors.

The body of this species is of an elongated and narrow form, the forehead straight, and the lower jaw somewhat extended. The colour above is pale greenish or ashy-brown, tinged with blue, the sides and abdomen silvery white. The bleak is common in Europe, and is one of the species whose nacre, or silvery matter, is used in the fabrication of artificial pearls.

THE MINNOW.

Although the sportsman of maturer years may despise "this small familiar fry," we cannot altogether pass over, in our brief record of angler's

* Leuciscus phoxinus, Cuv. Cyprinus phoxinus, Linn.

M