Page:British Reptiles, Amphibians, and Fresh-water Fishes.djvu/110

BRITISH FRESH-WATER FISHES which always resorted to a certain spot overhung by bushes in a backwater of the River Colne at Bricket Wood, Hertfordshire, but never succeeded in catching one of those wary monsters. It responds to the art of the fly-fisherman, and is also caught with lob-worm, or greaves and paste. It is a hardy customer to deal with even when securely hooked, but "its dogged that does it," as Charles Darwin used to say, and the fish is soon overpowered. It feeds upon other fishes, as well as insects, shrimps, worms, and weeds. The eggs are deposited from Spring to early Summer, and the antics of the parent fish whilst engaged in the propagation of their species are most entertaining to watch, as they leap out of the water and add a touch of animation to the environment. The males have small tubercles on the head during the breeding season, and the scales are rougher than at other times.

Minnow.—Phoxinus aphya (Fig. 49). This gay little species, active and beautiful withal, is a prime favourite dating from boyhood days. One thinks straight away of quiet stretches of the River Colne on a hot day in June. Standing on the old wooden bridge and peering into the clear stream beneath, a shoal of Minnows were always to be seen disporting themselves, and very engaging they were as one watched them at both work and play. Of voracious disposition, I often used to catch these silvery little tenants of the Colne by using a maggot, or caddis worm, as bait. So eager were the fish for the fray, that I have often hooked them other than in the mouth. 92