FISHES streams in the north part according to Mr. G. S. Tye. HAPLOMI 7. Pike. Esox lucius, Linn. Common and indeed abundant in all the larger streams. It occurs in many ponds and canals where it has without doubt been intro- duced, as for instance in the pools in Sutton Park. Mr. J. Steele Elliott speaks of it as abundant at the latter place. OSTARIOPHYSI 8. Carp. Cyprinus carpio, Linn. Very rare in the Avon and not recorded by Mr. G. S. Tye as occurring in the Tame or Anker. According to that authority how- ever it has been found in the Plants Brook reservoir, and Mr. J. Steele Elliott speaks of it as numerous in the pools in Sutton Park. It also occurs in many other similar places in the county. 9. Crucian Carp. Cyprinus carassius, Linn. Stated by Mr. G. S. Tye to be not un- uncommon in small cattle pits in the county. 10. Gudgeon. Gobio fluviatilis, Flem. Very numerous in all the principal streams, spawning in shoals in stony places where there is a rapid flow of water. 1 1 . Roach. Leuciscus rutilus, Linn. Abundant in all the larger streams. It seeks the fibrous roots of willows on which to deposit its spawn, which is consumed in quantity by the broad-nosed eel, as fishermen well know who take the eels in wicker put- chins at such places. Up to the present time there is no recorded occurrence of the Rudd, Leuciscus erythroph- thalmus, in Warwickshire ; though as a known Worcestershire fish its presence in the former county might be expected. 12. Dace. Leuciscus dobu/a, Linn. Common in the Avon and its feeders. Though occurring in the Trent, there is no record of its frequenting the Tame or Anker. The fish mentioned in Yarrell's History of British Fishes as having been found by Mr. W. Thompson in the Learn at Leamington under the name of 'graining' is nothing more than a light coloured dace, such as may be taken from the Stour near Stratford and from the Arrow near Alcester. 13. Chub. Leuciscus cepha/us, Linn. Found in all the considerable streams as well as in the canals all over the county. It is not however mentioned by Mr. J. Steele Elliott as occurring in the pools in Sutton Park. 14. Minnow. Leuciscus phoxinus, Linn. Formerly very abundant in the small streams and brooks, though never numerous in the larger streams such as the Avon, but now less common everywhere. Said by Mr. G. S. Tye to be ' common in many streams ' around Birmingham, that is in 1886. 15. Tench. Tinea vu/garis, Cuv. Common in pools but very rare in the rivers, and quite unknown in the small streams. 1 6. Bream. Abramis brama, Linn. Common in the Avon, frequenting the deep parts and keeping in shoals. More abundant than formerly, but not mentioned as having been taken from the Anker or Tame, and is not known to appear in the smaller streams generally. Its existence in ponds such as those in Sutton Park must be the result of introduction. The hybrid between this and the next species, known as Pomeranian bream, Abramis huggenhagi, Bloch, also occurs. More than half a century since the present writer, when roach fishing in the Avon near Welford, occa- sionally took a small fish which seemed to agree with the specific details of the present fish as given in Yarrell's History of British Fishes. Specimens having been taken to Mr. Yarrell were stated by him to be examples of the Pomeranian bream, which specific deter- mination was afterwards confirmed by Dr. Gunter, to whom specimens were sent. It was never found in any numbers in the Avon, one or two being taken in a large catch of roach and other white fish either by fishermen in nets or by anglers. Subsequently however to the above mentioned time great numbers were found in the ancient fishponds and stews at Temple Grafton. As those excavations were connected with a small brook, and through it with the Avon, it has been suggested that these small fish had been introduced into the fishponds, and that individuals had escaped by the brook into the Avon. It would however be most unlikely that so valueless a fish would be brought to the fishponds, and the supposi- tion that it had ascended to them from the Avon seems to be a more probable explana- tion. Certain it is that it was there in abun- dance and was supposed by the people of the village to be the young of the carp. The first English specimen was obtained at Dagenham, on the Thames, which river, 185 24
