Page:British Reptiles, Amphibians, and Fresh-water Fishes.djvu/128

BRITISH FRESH-WATER FISHES ready to ascend some of our rivers, and this it does in shoals. It spawns in the sea. Fish and other food constitute the diet. Possessed of great cunning and fastidiousness, the Bass is nevertheless held in high estimation for the excellence of its flesh, and to the angler its sporting proclivities make a strong appeal. The Anglo-Saxon name for Perch was Baers, and from that word our modern Bass has been derived.

River Bullhead.—Cotttis gohio (Fig. 63). This little species is also known as the Miller's Thumb, and belongs to the same family as the sea-loving Gurnard, It has no scales. The arched back; close proximity of the two dorsal fins; small eyes; broad head, and taper- ing body, are features of interest. As far as is known, it only occurs in England and Wales, and prefers clear-running brooks, or streams, where there is an absence of mud. It lives a solitary existence, and like the Loach, is an adept at taking cover under stones or other obstacles. Generally speaking, it is of sluggish disposition, but it 110